5.3-magnitude earthquake shakes Romania on Friday night

A 5.3-magnitude earthquake shook Romania and the Republic of Moldova last night, shortly after 2:00 AM. The earthquake had its epicenter in the Vrancea seismic region at a depth of about 92 kilometers. It was strongly felt in southern Romania, including the capital Bucharest, and in the Republic of Moldova and Bulgaria. The quake produced no victims or damages. Romania’s National Institute for Earth Physics (INFP), which monitors seismic activity in Romania, initially announced a 5.6-magnitude earthquake, but adjusted its measurements afterwards. A 5.3 magnitude earthquake is considered moderate, according to INFP representatives. This is the most powerful earthquake to hit Romania in the past 20 months. The biggest earthquake in recent years was felt on November 22, 2014, when a 5.7-magnitude earthquake was felt in Bucharest. editor@romania-insider.com