HistoryData
disaster2020

2020 Petrinja earthquake — earthquake near Petrinja, Croatia, on 29 December 2020 at 12:20 PM CET

December 29, 2020

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck central Croatia near Petrinja, killing nine people and causing widespread destruction in Sisak-Moslavina County.

Quick Facts

Year
2020
Category
disaster

Key Facts

Magnitude
6.4 Mw (6.2 ML)
Deaths
9 confirmed
Injuries
26
Max felt intensity
VIII–IX on European macroseismic scale
Strongest foreshock
5.2 Mw on 28 December 2020
Strongest aftershock
4.9 Mw

By the Numbers

6.4
Magnitude
9
Deaths
26
Injuries
5.2
Strongest foreshock

Location

Map of Petrinja, CroatiaMap of Petrinja, CroatiaPetrinja, Croatia

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

In the day preceding the main event, a sequence of foreshocks occurred in central Croatia, the strongest reaching 5.2 Mw on 28 December 2020, indicating heightened seismic activity along faults in the Sisak-Moslavina region near Petrinja.

Event

At 12:19 PM CET on 29 December 2020, a 6.4 Mw earthquake struck roughly 3 km west-southwest of Petrinja, Croatia, with maximum felt intensity estimated at VIII to IX on the European macroseismic scale, followed by numerous aftershocks including one of 4.9 Mw.

Consequence

Nine people were killed — seven during the earthquake and two workers struck by falling debris during repairs — and 26 were injured. Widespread damage was recorded across Sisak-Moslavina County and nearby Croatian counties, with effects also felt in parts of Bosnia and Slovenia.

Human Cost

Death toll visualizationEach dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths.

Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 9 (earthquake)

earthquakeMagnitude 6.4 Mw
Sisak-Moslavina CountyCroatiaBosnia and HerzegovinaSlovenia

Timeline Context

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