A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Syria late on Monday, causing tremors that were felt across neighboring Lebanon. The quake, centered east of the city of Hama, occurred at 11:56 PM local time, according to Syria's state-run SANA news agency. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake's magnitude as 5.0.

Residents in Beirut and other parts of Lebanon, as well as in Damascus, reported feeling the tremor. In Syria's Turkish-controlled north, the quake caused widespread panic, with many residents rushing out of their homes, still traumatized by the devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the region in February 2023. That earlier quake resulted in nearly 60,000 deaths across Turkey and Syria, with thousands of buildings destroyed.

In Damascus, the recent tremor revived painful memories for residents, many of whom are still haunted by the destruction of last year's quake. Roba, a 35-year-old accountant, shared her fear, saying, "We panicked and rushed out of the building... We do not have the courage to go back to the 11th floor where we live."

The earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the region's vulnerability to seismic activity, with the scars of past disasters still fresh in the minds of those who lived through them.