A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit the eastern Mediterranean region, felt by residents of Syria, Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. The German Research Center for Geosciences reported that a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck Jordan and Syria late on Monday, felt by people in both countries and in Lebanon. The center noted that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 kilometers. It previously reported a magnitude of 5.46 but reduced it shortly thereafter. The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) stated that the epicenter was near the city of Hama. Residents across Syria felt the quake, and people in the northern city of A'zaz recalled the deadly earthquake that occurred last year, which resulted in thousands of deaths in northern Syria and neighboring Turkey.
The Syrian Civil Defense organization operating in opposition-controlled areas stated that they deployed personnel in several regions to respond to potential emergencies but had not received reports of any damages so far. Residents throughout Lebanon also felt the tremor. Reports indicated that several people were injured due to panic in Aleppo.
The east Mediterranean earthquake raised concerns among residents of Tripoli, Akkar, and Dinniyeh in Lebanon, prompting them to take to the streets out of fear of potential collapses due to aftershocks, according to local media.
**The Scientist's Warning**
Dutch seismologist Frank Hoogerbeets warned of an earthquake before the one in Syria, based on his analyses of certain atmospheric phenomena that occurred on August 9. A social media user named "Alex" commented on a tweet from the Dutch scientist where he mentioned having predicted the earthquake, asking, "Could this be a sign of a stronger tremor in the near future?" Hoogerbeets responded, "Yes, this is possible." The Dutch seismologist affirmed that multiple studies using data from the Earth and satellites have shown changes in the ionosphere (SIAs) before significant earthquakes occur.
