Impact and Insights from the 2020 Petrinja Earthquake

The ML 6.2 Petrinja earthquake, which struck on December 29, 2020, is one of the most significant continental earthquakes in central Europe in recent years, following previous major events in Central Italy and Albania. This earthquake, along with the magnitude 5.5 event in Zagreb earlier in March 2020, resulted in substantial loss of life and extensive damage to infrastructure, highlighting the region's high seismic hazard. Historical records reveal a consistent pattern of seismic activity in the Petrinja area, characterized by the activation of NW-SE right-lateral faults linked to the Pannonian basin dynamics. Following the Petrinja earthquake, a comprehensive survey was conducted by the Croatian Geological Survey in collaboration with European geologists and engineers, utilizing conventional and advanced satellite and airborne technologies such as GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System),(Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) and InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) to assess environmental impacts. The study's findings underscore the importance of understanding active fault systems and suggest enhanced cooperation between scientists to address the complex seismic risk in the region. The research emphasizes the need for an in-depth analysis of fault behaviour to develop effective risk mitigation and disaster preparedness strategies.