Feb 24 • 08:25 UTC 🇸🇰 Slovakia Postoj

After the earthquake in Báč / We thought Russians or Ukrainians were shooting, say locals. The tremors damaged a historic church

A recent earthquake in the village of Báč shocked residents, who initially mistook the tremors for gunfire amid ongoing conflict fears.

Residents of Báč experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.3, which caused panic among locals who believed they were hearing gunfire from nearby military conflicts. An elderly woman recounted how she heard a loud boom and ran outside, assuming it was something related to the ongoing tensions in the region, leading to immediate concerns about the safety of their environment. Fortunately, despite the severity of the tremors, the damage reported was minimal, primarily involving some fallen plaster and cracks in walls.

The earthquake's epicenter was near the village, eliciting a strong emotional response from the community. Local residents shared their initial reactions, demonstrating how deeply the ongoing war impacts their perception of safety and normalcy. Some even speculated that there could be explosions from the nearby Slovnaft refinery, reflecting the heightened anxiety and wariness present among the inhabitants of Báč. Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported, and many residents found solace in the fact that their possessions, like large paintings and furniture, remained undamaged.

The event highlights the intersection of natural disasters and geopolitical tensions in the region, illustrating how external conflicts can shape local reactions to such incidents. The fear of violence from the ongoing war colors the locals' experiences, even in the face of a natural occurrence like an earthquake. As the village processes the psychological impact of the quake, they continue to live under the looming shadow of conflict, which has become an ever-present reality in their lives.

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