The southern Srifa sector was jolted by a predawn earthquake Friday, sparking panic among the weary population, but no casualties were reported.

The tremor registered 3.5 degrees on the Richter scale, seismological authorities reported.

The region has been the theater of scores of quakes and aftershocks for over two months, which sparked fears in south Lebanon about a possible major tremor that might strike the region.

Residents of the Srifa sector and surrounding regions have been living in tents erected in fields to avert possible quake damage.