Croatia earthquake leaves children among dead, forcing hospital evacuation and nuclear plant shutdown

A strong earthquake has hit central Croatia, destroying buildings and sending panicked people fleeing into rubble-covered streets.

Authorities said seven people were killed and at least 20 were injured.

Rescuers tried to pull people from the rubble of collapsed buildings, and army troops were sent into the area to help.

The GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said the magnitude-6.4 quake hit at a depth of 10 kilometres.

The epicentre was 50km south of the Croatian capital Zagreb.

It caused widespread damage in the hardest-hit town of Petrinja.

The same area was struck by a magnitude-5.2 quake on Monday.

Tomislav Fabijanic, head of emergency medical services, said many people had been injured.