Magnitude 4.3 Quake Epicenter in Samorin, Mayor Reports No Major Damage

Samorin/Bratislava, 21 February (TASR) - A magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck western Slovakia on Saturday afternoon was also felt by residents of Samorin, who found the location of their town close to the epicentre. According to the town's mayor, Csaba Orosz, the tremors drew increased attention from locals, but no serious damage has been reported so far. He told TASR that he personally checked the situation in the town's streets. "Automatically, the first thing that came to people's minds was an earthquake. Everyone ran out of their homes, we looked at each other to see what was happening," he said. Residents initially inspected their properties. The mayor added that he contacted firefighters and the municipal police immediately after the tremors. "As I have been informed by the firefighters, so far no one has reported any damage that would need to be dealt with urgently," he stated. He added that there have been no reports of structural damage to buildings or disruptions to utility networks. "People were slightly frightened, standing outside and discussing these unpleasant experiences," he said, adding that the town remains in contact with emergency services. The earthquake hit western Slovakia at 1.44 p.m. on Saturday. According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), it reached a magnitude of 4.3, while initial data indicated a strength of 4.6. The epicentre was located on the Slovak-Hungarian border, approximately two kilometres from Samorin, in the area near the village of Kyselica. Kristian Csicsay, head of the seismology department at the Slovak Academy of Sciences, confirmed to TASR that the data measured by automatic instruments must still be reviewed by a seismologist. mf