Earthquake hits Saudi Arabia
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's earthquake monitoring service is urging residents of several villages in the kingdom's western region to evacuate after it recorded a temblor measuring5.39 on the Richter scale.
The Saudi National Center for Earthquakes and Volcanos said in a statement Wednesday the pre-dawn quake caused no damage or injuries. But it urged residents of five villages west of the holy city of Medina to head to tent camps and shelters set up by authorities.
Arab satellite new channels had reported that many have already fled the area.
Authorities have been distributing surgical masks after many complaints about unpleasant odors emanating from the fissures caused by the quake. Earlier, a magnitude 4.9 quake was registered in the same area.