Prominent Serbian seismologist's reaction: We are expecting more strong earthquakes

It is to be expected that seismic activity will continue in the entire Balkans, she noted

Seismologist Slavica Radovanovic said today, regarding the earthquake that hit Montenegro on Thursday and was felt in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, that although Serbia is in the background of these events, it is connected to that area, which is why it is to be expected that that seismic activity will continue throughout the Balkans and that we will witness more strong earthquakes.

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She told Tanjug that this was another in a series of earthquakes that testifies to the increase in seismic activity in this area.

"I will remind you that there was an earthquake near Nevesinje in 2019 which also had a magnitude of 5.3, then in 2022 near Stolac, an M5.7. For the sake of better context, these are all earthquakes that happened 40 to 50 kilometers from the one yesterday," she stated.

Radovanovic noted that the strongest earthquakes in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro had magnitudes exceeding six units on the Richter scale, and added that in the future seismic activity at such high levels can be expected in those areas.

Asked why the earthquake in Serbia was most felt in the area of Nova Varos, Novi Pazar and Pozega, the seismologist said that was because they were the closest to the area where it occurred.

"Novi Pazar, Nova Varos and in general that border area towards Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro is the closest to the epicenter, and those who are close to it always feel it more strongly. The further you get from the epicenter, the less chance you have of feeling the tremor. Given its magnitude of 5.3 units on the Richter scale, it was to be expected that they (said towns) would feel it intensely, while on the higher floors in Uzice, maybe even in Belgrade, only individuals would," she explained.

According to her, it is difficult to forecast and talk about what will happen in a month, but when it comes to the long-term, Radovanovic believes that there is the possibility of earthquakes like those in the past happening again.

"Regarding this particular area, just this line from Nevesinje and north of Niksic, the maximum magnitude has been reached there, but somewhat closer to Dubrovnik (in Croatia), maximum magnitudes are much higher," she said.

(Telegraf.rs/Tanjug)