Night of anxiety in Skopje: Residents fear a repeat of '63, when the city was destroyed in an earthquake

There is no panic in Skopje, although the locals are not calm. Last night everyone was on the streets - the younger ones because they went out, and the older ones because they were scared. They better remember the terrible earthquake of 1963, when more than 1,000 people died here, reports the Patria News Agency. 

About 100 people reported to doctors due to minor injuries, and about 300 households reported material damage.

The strongest earthquake in this series, 5.3 on the Richter scale, hit Skopje at 3:10 PM. The first, with a magnitude of about four degrees, woke residents on Sunday morning shortly before seven o'clock.

However, the ground is not calming down. Yesterday there were several earthquakes, around noon, then two hours later (magnitude 3.7), and the strongest last night shortly before 8 PM, at 4.8 on the Richter scale.

Although there is no panic in the city, the locals are shocked. Especially those on the higher floors, where every earthquake is felt even more. That is why many spent the previous night at their relatives', in houses and on the ground floor.

Authorities are appealing to the locals not to flee the city, as they claim that after the devastating earthquake of 1963, all buildings were constructed to withstand much stronger ground movements.

The Institute of Seismology in Skopje hopes that the 5.3 magnitude tremor was the main one, and that a stronger one will not occur, RTS reports.