12 February 2004	Thursday	20 Zilhaj 1424

AL QUDS, Feb 11: A medium to strong earthquake shook several Middle Eastern countries on Wednesday, causing some minor injuries and damage, and sparking scenes of panic from Cairo to Amman.

Seismology centres across the region reported the quake was followed by several smaller aftershocks, but they differed over the exact location of its epicentre around the Dead Sea.

Israeli seismologists were quoted by public radio as saying the 20-second quake hit at 10.10am (1310 PST) and that it measured 4.5 on the open-ended Richter scale. They placed the epicentre north of the Dead Sea.

In Jerusalem, many buildings were evacuated as a precaution, and the radio reported two buildings suffered minor damage, including one in Tel Aviv. In the West Bank, Palestinian residents also rushed shouting into the streets of Nablus and Al Khalil, witnesses said.

In Jordan, four construction workers in the Dead Sea area suffered minor concussions and were treated in hospital, the state Petra news agency said. A small landslide came down near a hotel at the hot spring town of Ma'in, just north of the Dead Sea, but narrowly missed causing casualties or damage, it added.

The quake triggered panic across Amman and neighbouring towns. Employees in the capital rushed out of offices and telephone lines were cut. Schoolchildren were given the day off.

Jordan's Energy Minister Azmi Khreissat said the quake measured 4.9 on the Richter scale and placed the epicentre southeast of the Dead Sea region. "A series of small tremors were felt since the early morning, with the largest one occurring at 10.14am (1314 PST)," Khreissat told Petra.

The tremor was also felt in Damascus, southern Syria and Lebanon, although the Syrian state Sana news agency reported no casualties or damage. -AFP