Quakes precede eclipse

Iran and the eastern Mediterranean were rudely awakened early yesterday morning many hours before the solar eclipse by two major earthquakes.

The first quake, which measured 5.1 on the Richter scale, struck north-eastern Iran at 12.03 a.m., killed a woman and injured another person at the village of Moaminabad.

Cyprus was shaken by two subsequent quakes and numerous aftershocks. The epicentre was in the southern district near the port city of Limassol. The first, measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale, occurred at 4.20 a.m. It was not felt in Nicosia but shook Limassolians out of their beds.

The second, larger quake took place at 7.28 a.m. This shock, 5.8 on the scale, jolted Nicosia, rattling windows and doors, but did no damage and caused no injuries.

Limassol was badly shaken. People living on upper floors of high-rise buildings were thrown from their beds, shelves and crockery were dashed to the floor. Twenty-five people were injured, including two who leapt from a first-floor window of their house, 82 buildings sustained damage and there were numerous landslides.

Aftershocks continued during the solar eclipse in the afternoon.

The second quake was also felt in Lebanon, Syria and Egypt.