Panic in Tripoli as 4.2 quake hits near Hermel

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake hit five kilometers south of Lebanon's eastern Hermel region on Wednesday evening, Lebanon's National Center for Geophysics said.

The Center added that the tremor occurred at 8:58 pm and was felt by residents in the Bekaa, the North, Metn, Keserwan and Beirut.

In Tripoli, residents panicked by the quake took to the streets and two public parks were opened for them at the instructions of Tripoli Municipality chief Ahmed Qamareddine.

Lebanon's residents are still reeling from the powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck southern Turkey before dawn Monday and was strongly felt across Lebanon for around 40 seconds.