Earthquake alerts were activated in Eilat and other southern Israel locations after a 4.5 earthquake was detected on Wednesday, in the area of the the Red Sea and the Gulf of Eilat.
Alerts were sounded in Eilat, Eilot, Be'er Ora, Elifaz, the Timna Mines, and the Shahoret Industrial Zone.
According to preliminary data from the Geological Survey of Israel, the earthquake's epicenter was near Taba in southern Sinai, approximately 224 kilometers from Israel.
The earthquake was initially estimated at magnitude 4.4 and a depth of 8 kilometers, but the Energy and Infrastructure Ministry later updated it to 4.5, citing the Geological Survey of Israel.
No injuries have yet been reported to emergency services.
The Ramon Airport was evacuated upon receiving the alert. The Israel Airports Authority (IAA) later announced that flight activity has been suspended until the airport is fully inspected and infrastructure checks are completed to ensure aviation safety.
According to N12 News, there is broken glass at the airport, though no other damage has been reported yet.
IDF investigating earthquake details
The IDF announced that the details of the incident are under investigation.
Olga, an employee at the Club Hotel, told Maariv that "Security just announced that everything is fine. Everyone went into the safe room. Personally, I didn't feel anything. Nothing moved. I'm on the ground floor."
Hava, an employee at the Dan Hotel, said that she "personally didn't feel anything. We heard a Red Alert siren. Everyone is fine; we're at the hotel."
The last deadly earthquake in Israel occurred in 1927, nearly a century ago. At that time, approximately 300 people were killed, and thousands were injured. The earthquake took place along the Syrian-African Rift. According to research, a powerful earthquake is liable to occur in this region every hundred years.
However, in response to the earthquake felt on Wednesday in Eilat, and others that have occured in recent years, the Home Front Command announced it would be advancing a national plan to strengthen the home front’s readiness for a major earthquake.
It has coined 2027 the "Year of Earthquake Preparedness." Throughout the year, it will hold a series of training sessions and exercises that will culminate in a major national-level drill.
The preparations will focus on three key pillars: strengthening the readiness of local authorities through the development of reference scenarios, training, and drills; building the Home Front Command’s operational capacity and enhancing search and rescue capabilities; and bolstering the IDF’s preparedness to address the consequences of a significant earthquake.
Rami Shani, Avi Ashkenazi, and Yuval Bagno contributed to this report.
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