Magnitude 5.7 quake hits eastern Romania

A 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck Romania's eastern county of Vrancea on Saturday evening, announced the National Institute for Earth Physics.
It was the strongest earthquake not only in this year, but also in the latest 10 years after a 6-magnitude earthquake on Oct. 27, 2004.
The epicenter, with a depth of 39 km, was determined to be in an uninhabited zone near Marasesti Town, some 200 km northeast of the capital city of Bucharest.
Power supplies were interrupted in four communes after the quake, according to Cristina Duta, spokesperson of the Inspectorate for Emergency Situations in Vrancea.
Local TV reports showed shelves collapsed in some supermarkets and houses, causing material damage.
The Vrancea seismic zone, including counties of Vrancea and Buzau, as well as surrounding mountains, is one of the most active seismic areas in Europe. It is known for its intermediate-depth (70-200 km) earthquakes, which can reach a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.8.
In March 1977, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake killed 1,600 people in Romania and damaged 8,500 buildings.