Two Quakes Jolt Skopje, Also Felt in Bulgaria

An earthquake measuring 5 on the Richter scale has been registered in Macedonia's capital Skopje and other parts of the country, seismologists say.

It has also been felt across Western and Soutwhestern Bulgaria, including the capital Sofia, Blagoevgrad, and Radomir.

A subsequent 5.3-magnitude earthquake has also hit the country, having been felt in neighboring Serbia and Kosovo.

The epicenter was some 7 km east of Skopje, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Institute. 

Macedonian authorities have warned that aftershocks are expected.

The quake was stronger than minor tremors measuring 3.9 and 2.8 respectively that had hit the country during the night of Saturday into Sunday, daily Utrinski vesnik writes.

"Citizens are in the streets," the newspaper reports.

There have been no reports of casualties.

In 1963, a 6.3 quake devastated Skopje, leaving more than 1070 people dead, injuring several thousand and leaving nearly half of the population homeless. Some 80% of the city was destroyed.

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