6.0-magnitude earthquake felt in Lebanon

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake was felt in parts of Lebanon Sunday afternoon, following a similar quake last month. Residents in Beirut and its suburbs reported experiencing the earthquake at around 4:30 p.m., but no damage or injuries were reported. The Behannes Center for Seismic and Scientific Research said Sunday’s tremor originated in Greece, according to the National News Agency. However, Agence France Presse reported that the epicenter was in southwestern Turkey, citing the Istanbul-based Kandilli Observatory. In Turkey, at least six people were admitted to hospital following the quake, having sustained injuries after jumping from balconies or windows in a panicked state, according to AFP. Last month a 5.5 magnitude was felt across the country, from Akkar, Tripoli and Zghorta to parts of the south and Mount Lebanon. The May 11 quake was reported to have originated around 130 km from the Beirut coastline, between Lebanon and Cyprus. With seismic fault lines to the north and south of the country and a high rate of urbanization, Lebanon must adopt contingency plans for earthquakes urgently, a U.N. disaster risk expert said last year. Margareta Wahlstrom added that greater awareness is also needed as to how citizens should react follow a major earthquake. Lebanon is “pretty well covered with seismic risk, I’m afraid,” she told The Daily Star in 2011. “It’s very important, for the future safety of urban areas, to look at how they are structured and the quality of the buildings,” she said.