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Senior Seismologist Warns of Looming Disaster Amid Earthquake Preparedness Gaps
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Eilat on Wednesday has prompted a senior seismologist to warn of Israel's poor preparedness for a major seismic event. The tremor, which occurred along the active Syrian-African Rift, caused no damage but led to the evacuation of passengers at Ramon Airport.
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What happened
- 01A magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Eilat on Wednesday triggered passenger evacuations at Ramon Airport but caused no damage.
- 02Seismologist Nadav Wetzler warned that Israel faces a constant risk of a major earthquake, which historically occurs about once every 100 years.
- 03A January 2024 State Comptroller report revealed that 60% of Israeli hospitals are not fortified against seismic activity.
- 04Approximately 70% of Israeli schools requiring seismic reinforcement currently lack adequate protection against earthquakes.
- 05Only 3.6% of buildings nationwide that require seismic reinforcement have been strengthened under programs like Tama 38.
- 06Israel's insurance coverage for natural disaster damages is only 44%, significantly lower than in other developed countries.
Nadav Wetzler, a seismologist from the Geological Institute, warned that the risk of a major earthquake in Israel is constant, with significant events occurring roughly once every century. The last major earthquake occurred in 1927 near the Dead Sea. While the Home Front Command's early warning system functioned correctly by activating for the magnitude 4.5 tremor, physical infrastructure remains highly vulnerable.
According to a January 2024 State Comptroller report, only 3.6% of buildings nationwide requiring seismic reinforcement have been strengthened. Furthermore, 60% of Israeli hospitals and approximately 70% of schools needing reinforcement lack adequate protection. The report also highlighted that Israel's insurance coverage for natural disasters stands at just 44%, which is significantly lower than in other developed nations.
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Latest report: Maariv. Read Maariv’s originalThe coverage
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Senior Seismologist Warns of Looming Disaster Amid Earthquake Preparedness Gaps
