Wreckage in Petrinja after a 6.4 magnitude earthquake left many people injured and homes destroyed
Many people have been left injured by the earthquake (Picture:AP/ Reuters)

A child is among at least six people to be killed after an earthquake of 6.4 magnitude struck a town in central Croatia today, leaving many people injured and houses destroyed.

Rescuers have been trying to pull people from the rubble of collapsed buildings and army troops have been sent in to help deal with the aftermath.

The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said the quake hit at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was in Petrinja, 50 km south of the Croatian capital Zagreb.

‘The centre of Petrinja as it used to be no longer exists,’ Croatia’s state HRT television reported, saying people remained inside collapsed buildings.

Petrinja mayor Darinko Dumbovic said in a statement broadcast by the channel: ‘My town has been completely destroyed. We have dead children.

‘This is like Hiroshima – half of the city no longer exists.’

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Video: Croatia quake rattles parliament building in neighbouring Slovenia

The 6.4 magnitude quake in Croatia was caught on parliamentary camera in neighbouring country Slovenia.

A man stands on a street next to destroyed houses on a street after an earthquake in Petrinja, Croatia December 29, 2020. Slavko Midzor/PIXSELL via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. CROATIA OUT. NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES.
A man stands on a street next to destroyed houses (Picture: Reuters)
The earthquake has left many homes in Petrinja in ruins
The earthquake has left many homes in Petrinja in ruins (Picture: Reuters)
A view of buildings damaged in an earthquake, in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death in a town southeast of the capital. (AP Photo)
Officials have said a 12-year-old child has been killed (Picture: AP)

After rushing to the town, Prime Minister Adrej Plenkovic said: ‘The army is here to help. We will have to move some people from Petrinja because it is unsafe to be here.’

N1 news channel quoted a Petrinja town official as saying that a 12-year old child had been killed, but gave no further details.

It showed footage of rescuers in Petrinja pulling a man and a child from the debris, both of whom were alive.

Other footage showed a house with a roof caved in. The reporter said she did not know if anyone was inside.

A nursery was also reported destroyed in the quake but there were no children inside at the time.

Reporters said the situation was ‘difficult’ in retirement homes in the Petrinja area.

A worker who had been fixing a roof in a village outside Petrinja told N1 that the quake threw him on the ground. He said nine of the 10 houses in the village were destroyed.

Girl killed and several injured as 6.4 magnitude earthquake hits Croatia Croatia quake caused an evacuation in Slovenian parliament
The town of Petrinja was the epicentre of the earthquake but was felt in several neighbouring countries
Soldiers inspect remains of a building damaged in an earthquake, in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia and caused major damage and at least one death in a town southeast of the capital. (AP Photo)
The army have been sent in to the Croatian town to help (Picture: AP)
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, centre, points his finger as he stands next to an elderly woman who was evacuated because of an earthquake, in Petrinja, Croatia, Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. A strong earthquake hit Croatia on Tuesday, with some injuries reported as well as considerable damages to roofs and buildings southeast of the capital. (AP Photo)
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic stands by elderly woman who was evacuated (Picture: AP)
A damaged building is seen after powerful 6.3 magnitude earthquake hits Petrinja town on December 29, 2020 in Zagreb, Croatia.
The earthquake has also affected the Croatian capital of Zagreb (Picture: Getty Images)

The quake could also be felt in Zagreb, where people rushed onto the streets, some of which were strewn with broken roof tiles and other debris.

It was also felt in neighbouring countries including Bosnia and Serbia, along with Slovenia, whose sole nuclear power plant, 100 km from the epicentre, was shut down as a precaution.

The quake also triggered an evacuation of Slovenia’s parliament, with video footage showing lawmakers trembling and running for safety.

Hungary’s Paks nuclear power plant said in a statement it had not shut down production although the earthquake had been felt there.

Yesterday a 5.2 magnitude earthquake hit central Croatia, also near Petrinja.

In March, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake was triggered in Zagreb, causing one death and injuring 27 people.

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