Powerful quake damages buildings in Croatia capital

ZAGREB AFP March22, 2020 – A 5.3-magnitude earthquake tore down chunks of buildings in Zagreb and left a teenager in critical condition on Sunday, state media reported, as authorities warned residents not to gather together and further spread the coronavirus.  Â

The quake, the most powerful to strike the Croatia capital in nearly 140 years according to Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, jolted the city at around 6:00 am local time (0500 GMT), sending panicked residents running out onto streets, according to an AFP journalist.  Â

The tremors snapped the spire of an iconic cathedral in Zagreb’s old centre and knocked down slabs of buildings that crushed parked cars under piles of bricks.  Â
Amid the confusion, a 15-year-old boy was initially reported dead but Zagreb’s hospital director later said the victim was a girl who remained in critical condition, state-run HINA agency reported.  Meanwhile, authorities urged citizens not to gather in groups outside to avoid further spreading of the new coronavirus.  Â
Croatia has detected more than 200 infections.