Earthquake shakes Lebanon and Syria

The earthquake struck off the coast of Latakia in Syria. (AFP/File)
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Updated 04 April 2020
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Earthquake shakes Lebanon and Syria

  • Syrian officials say the earthquake measured 4.7 on the Richter Scale and struck off the coast of Latakia

BEIRUT: A small earthquake in the eastern Mediterranean was felt across parts of Lebanon and Syria on Friday.

"Residents in Beirut, Zgharta, Batroun, Tripoli and Akkar felt an earthquake that lasted for several seconds," Lebanon's state-run National News Agency said.

The earthquake measured 4.7 on the Richter Scale at a depth of 20 kilometres, some 65 kilometres from the coastal city of Latakia, Syria’s state news agency SANA reported.

The shaking was felt in Latakia Tartous, Hama, Homs, and Aleppo.


Italy temporarily closes embassy in Tehran

Updated 8 sec ago
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Italy temporarily closes embassy in Tehran

  • “We have decided for security reasons to temporarily close our embassy in Tehran,” Tajani said

ROME: Rome is temporarily closing its embassy in Tehran and moving staff to Azerbaijan, Italy’s foreign minister said Thursday.
“We have decided for security reasons to temporarily close our embassy in Tehran, and move the personnel to Baku,” Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani told journalists at the Senate.
His spokesman confirmed the closure to AFP but stressed Italy “has not broken off diplomatic relations.”
The United States and Israel launched a war against Iran on Saturday, prompting it to retaliate across the region.
Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that several explosions were heard in Tehran on Thursday morning.