Beirut, february 20: A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 has struck the Turkey-Syria border region, according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The earthquake occurred at a depth of two kilometers on Monday and led to further damage to buildings in central Antakya (Antioch), which had already been hit by two massive earthquakes two weeks ago, causing tens of thousands of deaths and extensive destruction of buildings and infrastructure.
Residents in Beirut, North and South Lebanon also felt the earthquake, and many left their homes. Some residents in Tripoli and Saida congregated in the streets due to the great fear and anxiety caused by the earthquake. The low tide observed over the weekend was deemed not unusual, and there is no risk of a tsunami.
The Lebanese government announced that all public and private schools in the country would remain closed until Wednesday. Recurring earthquakes in Turkey have been felt in Lebanon, with a 4.6-magnitude quake being felt across the country just last Thursday.
