An earthquake measuring an estimated at 4.2 degrees on the Richter scale hit areas east of the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, DPA reported. The tremor was felt in the capital Beirut, causing panic in the streets. The earthquake epicenter was near the town of Tyre in southern Lebanon. The second earthquake was felt as far as Bint Jbeil near the Israeli border. The largest earthquake of modern times struck Lebanon in 1956 , killing 136 people, destroying 6,000 buildings and damaged 1,700 more. It destroyed a big part of the old city of Saida (Sidon). In 1759 an earthquake completely destroyed Beirut and Damascus, killing 40,000.
