Sixth Light Quake Hits North, Homefront Activated

A tremor on Tuesday morning, the fifth in this series, measured 3.3 on the Richter scale, and was followed in the afternoon by a somewhat milder one, measuring 2.2, also in the Teveria area. No damage or injuries were reported.

On Monday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu ordered earthquake drills in schools throughout the country.

The Home Front Command reminded people that the safest strategy would be to abandon any structure in favor of an open outdoor area in an earthquake, particularly if they find themselves in a one-story building, or on the ground floor of a multi-floor building.

If it is not possible to go outside, citizens should go to the building’s bomb shelter with the door remaining open.

Shas MK Eli Yishai, who chairs the Knesset subcommittee on home front preparedness, announced a “special meeting” on Monday “in wake of the wave of earthquakes.”

“We must be prepared for any scenario,” he said, adding that the subcommittee will identify shortcomings in the government’s preparedeness program and demand they be fixed.

Minister for the Protection of the Environment MK Amir Peretz (Movement) has urged factories in the north to update risk assessments of dangerous materials that could cause danger to residents in a more serious earthquake. He also asked businesses to run emergency drills to facilitate exit for workers in an emergency.

This article appeared in print on page 17 of the October 23rd, 2013 edition of Hamodia.