Jerusalem residents feel earthquake near Dead Sea

The Israeli National Geological Institute reported an earthquake with a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale near the Dead Sea, which lies on the border between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. The earthquake took place on Sunday night at approximately 11:15 p.m. local time. No injuries or damage have been reported.

While the epicenter of the earthquake was in the Dead Sea region, the impact could reportedly be felt in several Israeli cities, including Jerusalem, Beersheva, Dimona and even the nation's southernmost city, Eilat.

"My mother and I felt a fairly mild earthquake. The bed and the couch moved, and a book fell off the shelf," a Jerusalem resident told the Ynet news outlet.

Four months ago, an earthquake with 3.8 on the Richter scale was recorded in the Galilee region in northern Israel and was felt at several local schools in the Jordan Valley which stretches between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea in the south.

Like other countries in the Levant region along the Eastern Mediterranean, Israel occasionally experiences earthquakes of various magnitudes due to its location between the African Plate in the west and the Arabian Plate in the east. The tectonic movements of these two plates cause earthquakes, especially along Israel’s eastern border stretching from the city of Safed in the north down the Jordan Valley to Eilat in the south.

While Israel usually experiences minor earthquakes, experts have warned it is only a matter of time until Israel will experience a large earthquake, which occur on average once every 100 years.

In 1837, a large earthquake struck the city of Safed, causing major destruction and between 6,000 and 7,000 deaths.

Following the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria in 2023, Israeli experts warn that Israel is ill-prepared for a large-scale earthquake. Dr. Amir Sagy from the Geological Survey of Israel warned that the nation needs to prepare for the next major earthquake in the future.

“I suggest that we do not be specifically concerned by this earthquake in Israel, but one should always remember that we are an area that’s prone to medium and large earthquakes that will affect the State of Israel, and we should constantly prepare for earthquakes and take into account that they will happen,” Sagy stated.

A report released by Israel's State Comptroller’s Office in December 2023 revealed that a staggering 93% of all buildings in Israel are not sufficiently strengthened. At least 8,000 buildings do not meet national safety standards for earthquakes, with older buildings constructed before 1985 being at the highest risk.

Dr. Ittai Kurzon, a seismologist working at the Israeli Geological Society has urged the authorities to invest $10 billion in reinforcing especially older structures across the nation.