Earth shook again late at night, panic gripped people, earthquake was of 5.5 magnitude

A Monday late-night earthquake hit central Syria, with no major damages reported but definitely some fear among residents as they looked back on the devastating earthquake that hit northern Syria and Turkey last year. According to Syria's National Earthquake Center, a 5.5 magnitude quake hit 28 kilometers to the east of the city of Hama at 11:56 pm local time. The US Geological Survey measured the magnitude of the earthquake at 5.0 and said it was 10 kilometers deep.

No immediate reports of deaths were given. Syria's state news agency SANA said local officials in Hama and surrounding government areas reported no damage. Around the opposition-held northwest, a local civil protection agency known as the White Helmets also said there were no casualties. In neighboring Lebanon, residents of Damascus and Beirut flocked to the streets fearing that the tremor would be strong enough to cause buildings to collapse. Panic was already running high over fears of being dragged into a full-scale war as the ongoing conflict escalated between the militant group Hezbollah and the Israeli military.

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Syria and Turkey on February 6, 2023, killing more than 59,000 people and adding to the devastation in already war-torn Syria.

Hama's health director Maher Younis told Sham FM radio station that 25 people suffered "minor and moderate injuries" as they panicked and tried to escape the quake.