STRONG EARTHQUAKE ROCKS ITALY & SLOVENIA & CROATIA

( Editorial: --> 6318 ) ZAGREB, April 12 (Hina) - At 12:55 on Sunday, the Croatian Seismological Service registered a strong earthquake 220 km west of Zagreb. The earthquake measured 6.1 degrees on the Richter scale, with the epicentre in the northern Italian region of Friuli. The intensity of the quake in its epicentre was estimated at nine degrees on the Mercalli-Cancani-Sieberg scale. The earthquake was felt in western Croatia. The Slovene Seismological Service registered the earthquake, with the epicentre in Kobarid, 15km from the Slovene-Italian border. The quake measured eight degrees on the Richter scale and was felt on the whole territory of Slovenia, especially in its western regions. According to first unofficial reports, there were no casualties and material damage was not extensive. Slovene radio reported that the epicentre of the quake was on the Slovene-Italian border, near Bovec, Kobarid and Tolmin. One person was wounded, several chimneys were torn down and a church in Tolmin was damaged, the radio reported. The road Kobarid-Bovec was closed for traffic due to a landslide. (hina) rm 121444 MET apr 98