A magnitude 5.8 earthquake was felt today (Tuesday) throughout Israel, with the epicenter of the noise on the Mediterranean day, 220 km from the island of Rhodes.
Israel is sitting on one of the most famous geological fractures in the world: the Syrian-African rift where there are always small earthquakes and once every hundred years or so, a strong earthquake is felt that may reach 7.2 and moves the ground in the country by half a meter.
The last earthquake of this kind was in the Dead Sea in 1927 and it resulted in dozens of deaths.
It is important to note that almost a hundred years have passed since it was estimated that this time the approaching earthquake will be five times stronger than the 1927 earthquake, with thousands killed, thousands seriously injured, thousands trapped in the rubble and about one hundred thousand homeless.
Against the background of the earthquake, the Home Front Command today again issued the guidelines for a strong earthquake in Israel, in order to better prepare the public.
Here are the main guidelines that are important to know and remember.
# Greece🇬🇷: A strong #earthquake of magnitude M6.4, was registered at 159 KM SE of #Karpathos, region of # ΝοτίουΑιγαίου.
Depth: 90 KM.
[PRELIM].
Source: GFZ.
Did you feel this earthquake ?, Tell us!.
pic.twitter.com/wOaFeWbOrG
- American Earthquakes (@earthquakevt) October 19, 2021
How to detect an earthquake?
During an earthquake you feel the floor shaking, the window panes rattle in their frames, there is difficulty standing steadily and you may feel a slight dizziness, the lamps swing on the ceiling, objects shake, slide on surfaces or fall, and furniture begins to 'float' on the floor. In addition, during an earthquake, you will hear a short-term warning for a few seconds to a few tens of seconds, using the Home Front Command's horns, the Home Front Command widget, the national emergency portal and the media.
What to do during an earthquake?
If you are inside a building and can get out of it in a few seconds - go out into the open.
If not, enter the security room in the apartment quickly and leave the window and the security door open.
In the absence of a security room - go out to the stairwell and if possible continue down the stairs until the exit of the building (do not use the elevator). If this is not possible, take shelter under heavy furniture under a heavy table, or in the inner corner of the room. Open and keep as far away as possible from buildings, trees and electrical cables, beware of falling objects such as wall cladding stones, air conditioner compressors, broken glass and torn electrical wires.
An earthquake started while traveling, what should I do?
Stop immediately on the side of the road and wait inside the vehicle until the quake stops - the vehicle provides protection.
Stop under a bridge, on an interchange, near buildings or on a steep slope, for fear of collapsing, and stay away from such places by car or on foot.
While staying at the beach, you should be about a kilometer away from the beach // Photo: Moshe Shai,
What do you do at the beach during an earthquake?
Beyond staying indoors, outdoors or in cars, we have enjoyed a long beach in Israel that allows us to spend almost all year there.
However, in the event of earthquakes, tsunami waves may come from the Mediterranean Sea and even the Red Sea or the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, so stay away from the shore.
According to the Home Front Command, the rule is to leave the beach immediately and stay away from it for at least one kilometer, for fear of a tsunami coming to flood the beach.
A strong and sudden sea retreat is a sign of an approaching tsunami.
If it is not possible to leave the coastal area, go up to at least the fourth floor of a nearby building. "
What to do after the quake?
It is very important to remember that after a strong earthquake a continued release of the energy that has accumulated between the plates is expected.
The release of energy is manifested in aftershocks of varying intensities, which can occur minutes, days or even months later and collapse structures previously damaged in the earthquake.
It is therefore advisable to stay only in stable and safe places and not to enter places that have been damaged by the noise and cracked or partially collapsed.
Beyond doing positive things during an earthquake, there are also things that should not be done at all in order to be protected from damage.
"In fact, stay away from buildings, trees and power poles, do not stand under the lintel, do not use the elevator and do not enter an underground shelter. In addition, do not use electricity or light a fire for fear of explosion due to a gas leak."
