Residents in North Lebanon took to the streets following a 6.3-magnitude Turkey earthquake that was felt in Lebanon. (Courtesy of Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — A 6.3-magnitude earthquake was felt in Lebanon Monday evening, 14 days after a devastating 7.8 quake in Turkey killed more than 46,000 people in Turkey and Syria.
The 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck the Turkey-Syria border region at a depth of two kilometers on Monday, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said.
Two Reuters witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antioch (Antakya), which was hit by two massive earthquakes two weeks ago, causing tens of thousands of deaths and destroying buildings and infrastructure.
Residents in Beirut, North and South Lebanon felt the earthquake and many left their homes. Residents in Saida, South Lebanon, and Tripoli, North Lebanon, congregated in the streets, L'Orient Today's correspondent in the region reported.
The earthquake caused great fear and anxiety among residents in the North, according to our correspondent. Some Tripoli residents decided to sleep in their cars, which they drove and parked in the outer courtyards of the Oscar Niemeyer's international fair grounds.
Tripoli residents sleeping in their cars, which they drove and parked in the outer courtyards of the Oscar Niemeyer's international fair grounds. (Courtesy Michel Hallak)
In Beirut, many fearful residents drove their cars to Horsh Beirut and congregated in the area, the state-run National News Agency reported.
The Ministry of Education and Higher Education announced Monday night that all public and private schools in Lebanon would remain closed until Wednesday.
Recurring earthquakes in Turkey have been felt in Lebanon. Most recently, a 4.6-magnitude quake was felt across the country on Thursday.
Reporting contributed by Muntasser Abdallah and Michel Hallak.