Moderate quake hits Romania's Vrancea, second strongest in 2023
A moderate earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale jolted the Vrancea seismic zone in eastern Romania on Sunday, December 24, 2023, at 8:06 AM local time.
The tremor originated at a depth of 100 kilometres, according to the National Institute for Research and Development in Earth Physics (INCDFP) in Romania.
"On December 24, 2023, at 08:06:28 AM, a medium earthquake with magnitude ml 4.0 occurred in the Vrancea seismic zone, Vrancea county," reported INCDFP, as cited by Digi 24.
The earthquake was felt in several nearby towns, including Focșani (31 km southeast), Buzău (53 km north), Sfântu-Gheorghe (82 km east), Brașov (92 km east), Bârlad (95 km southwest), and Ploiești (97 km northeast).
While moderate in intensity, this tremor ranks as the second strongest earthquake recorded in Romania this year. The country experienced a more powerful 5.7-magnitude earthquake in Gorj county on February 14th, though at a shallower depth of 6.3 kilometres.
Currently, there are no reports of injuries or significant damage caused by the Vrancea earthquake. However, authorities urge residents in the affected areas to remain cautious and follow official safety guidelines in case of potential aftershocks.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
