An earthquake was felt in the central and eastern areas of Cyprus and in southern Turkey, Syria and Lebanon about 7pm on Monday, according to the independent Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC).

According to the EMSC, the quake was magnitude 6.3 and occurred in the border area between Turkey in Syria, where massive earthquakes last week devastated cities killing thousands.

A Nicosia resident said: “I was scared as my house was shaking again.”

Describing the moment a Famagusta resident in the north told the Cyprus Mail: “I saw the frames shaking, so I got up and put my cat in her carrier bag and got out of the house.”

Asked about the tremor, a witness in Limassol said that the earthquake was felt in the area.

Two Reuters witnesses reported a strong quake and further damage to buildings in central Antakya which was hit by two massive earthquakes two weeks ago, causing tens of thousands of deaths and destroying buildings and infrastructure.

Other witnesses said Turkish rescue teams were running around after the latest quake, checking people were unharmed.

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