Tunisia quake injures 12
2002-06-25 18:58
Tunis - Twelve people were hospitalised for injuries following an
earthquake that shook the Tunisian town of Kairouan, 150km south of Tunis, the official agency TAP reported on Tuesday.
The residents, described by the agency as "in a state of shock", were injured when their houses collapsed on them or when they jumped out the window to flee.
The quake, which struck about 02:20, caused a brief wave of panic as people rushed from their homes, residents said by telephone.
The Kairouan governor arrived on the scene on Tuesday to comfort residents, the agency said.
The national meteorological office said the quake measured 4.6
on the Richter scale.
Earthquakes are frequent in Tunisia, but usually lead neither to casualties, nor to damage.
Kairouan, an important historic and religious centre with
160 000 inhabitants, had not had an earthquake since 1969.
- Sapa-AFP
- SAPA