Inside an old house in Tripoli, a day after another earthquake was recorded in Lebanon. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
TRIPOLI — Residents of Tripoli in North Lebanon, one of the poorest areas in the country, on Wednesday night fled their houses following a 4.3 magnitude earthquake that hit an area near Hermel in the Bekaa.
The earthquake is the second significant felt quake following Monday's pre-dawn earthquake that killed more than 17,500 in Turkey and Syria and was strongly felt across Lebanon.
Monday's earthquake caused fear and panic among residents, causing night traffic jams as people fled their buildings.
An old building in Tripoli, North Lebanon. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
Following Wednesday night's quake, the director of the National Center for Geophysics, Marlene Brax told Aljadeed TV, the seismic activity recorded in Lebanon lately "is not normal."
"We have recorded nine earthquakes that were not aftershocks, four of which were felt by the population. ... It doesn't mean that a big earthquake will definitely happen, but this activity is abnormal," she said.
Her words caused some concern among many Lebanese.
However, according to Samir Zaatiti, geologist and hydrogeologist, "the tremor felt Wednesday evening by the Lebanese is within the norms of the tremors that take place in Lebanon."
On Wednesday night, many residents of Tripoli who felt the earthquake fled their homes fearing their houses and apartment buildings, many of them old and in poor condition, might collapse.
The panic led to the municipality to open public parks for people to stay in, despite the cold winter weather.
Omar Barakat, who lives in an old house in Tripoli, suffered a fractured wrist Monday night while he was checking the water tank on the roof when part of it collapsed due to the strong storm Lebanon has been experiencing since the beginning of the week.
Omar Barakat, who lives in an old house in Tripoli, suffered a fractured wrist Monday night. (Credit: João Sousa/L'Orient Today)
"When the first earthquake happened [on Monday] I felt a lot of fear and I ran outside in my pajamas. The entire building was shaking and the chandeliers were shaking," said Umm Hassan, 55, who owns a shop under Omar's house.
Following Monday's earthquake, she fled to her daughter's house in Dinniyyeh, in the north, where she was during the second quake.
Even for those who live in recently-constructed buildings, Monday's earthquake still triggered anxiety.
Ismer Naseh, 80, who was speaking from his barber shop, told L'Orient Today: "I didn't leave my house when the second quake happened, my building is new."
On Wednesday, caretaker Interior Minister Bassam Mawlawi called on municipalities to "carry out a survey of damaged buildings and landslides," following Monday's quake.
After Monday's quake, cracks appeared in the walls of Umm Hassan's house.
Asked if she requested the municipality or an engineer to check the structural integrity of her house, Umm Hassan said had not because she doesn't believe anyone will follow through.
"It's all in God's hands," she said.
Monday's...