Another shallow earthquake shakes Skopje, Macedonia

After a series of shallow earthquakes shook Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on September 11 and 12, 2016, another one hit the city at 10:52 UTC on October 4, 2016.

EMSC received more than 700 reports minutes after the M3.1 earthquake today, saying this is probably their record number of testimonies for such a small earthquake.

The estimated population in the felt area is 390 000.

The epicenter of the earthquake was 6 km (3.7 miles) SE of Skopje center (population 475 000). Hypocentral depth was 1 km (0.62 miles).

Felt reports after M3.1 earthquake hits Skopje, Macedonia at 10:52 UTC on October 4, 2016

Between 04:58 UTC on September 11 and 17:53 UTC on September 12, EMSC registered a total of 12 shallow earthquakes under Macedonia's capital Skopje. The strongest was mb5.2 at 13:10 UTC on September 11, 2016.

More than 100 people have been injured and sought medical assistance. Most were injured while trying to leave their homes in panic. According to the MIA news agency, three people have been hospitalized, including a woman who fell off the first-floor terrace. Some of those who have been injured "admitted this would not have happened had they not panicked."

In 1963, a M_w6.1 earthquake hit Skopje destroying about 80% of the city. It killed over 1 070 people, injured between 3 000 and 4 000, and left more than 200 000 homeless.

The devastating Skopje earthquake of 1963 explains why the public interest is so high.

This article explains what to do before and during big earthquakes.

Featured image credit: EMSC, Google