More Minor Earthquakes Felt Near Kinneret

Northern Israel resumed its shaking on Sunday as two earthquakes were reported near the Kinneret. B’chasdei Shamayim, no injuries or property damage were reported.

The first tremor registered 3.0 on the Richter Scale on Sunday afternoon, according to Israel’s Geophysical Institute.

The second, which came just before 5 p.m., was much stronger. Measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale, people said they felt it not only in the vicinity of the epicenter near Teveriah but as far away as Haifa and the Golan Heights.

Sunday’s seismic events follow a series of quakes that centered in the north last week, the biggest on early Wednesday morning in the northern Galil measuring 4.3.

They renewed concern that something more serious could be in the offing. Experts at the World Health Organization say that Israel is at high risk for an earthquake of as much as 5 to 5.9, with real destructive potential.

In response, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said last Thursday that he’ll soon be unveiling a new multi-year plan to protect the country from earthquakes.

“Last year, we carried out the biggest earthquake exercise in years,” he said in a statement.

“We learned many lessons, one of which was the need for a multi-year home front defense plan, especially for the north. This month, we’ll present it to the cabinet and I’m sure we’ll get the green light and budget to get started.”