A 3.6-magnitude earthquake shook northern Israel today | Jerusalem experiences mild earthquake

Northern Israel experiences mild earthquake, residents felt buildings shake

A 3.6-magnitude earthquake shook northern Israel today, prompting residents to seek shelter amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Despite buildings trembling, there were no injuries or damage reported from the quake, which occurred at a depth of 18 kilometers (11 miles) in the Hula-Kinneret area around 12:50 p.m., according to the Geological Survey of Israel.

While the region frequently registers seismic activity, most tremors go unnoticed by residents. However, concerns about earthquake preparedness persist, with a recent report highlighting significant structural vulnerabilities in northeastern Israeli cities.

Despite efforts by the Construction and Housing Ministry to reinforce buildings, only a fraction of the structures requiring upgrades have been addressed. This underscores the urgency of improving earthquake readiness, especially in the wake of recent devastating quakes in neighboring Turkey and Syria.

Israel's location along the Great Rift Valley makes it susceptible to seismic events, with historical earthquakes occurring approximately every century. The last major quake in 1927 resulted in significant casualties and damage to several cities in the region.