The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco a few days ago caused extensive damage to life and property in Marrakesh and above all, to the villages in the Atlas Mountains to the south. The stronger, closer, and shallower an earthquake, the greater the expected damage. Another critical factor that affects the extent of the damage is the quality of the construction. Construction in Morocco is generally of low quality: buildings lack proper foundations, are made from blocks, and lack reinforcements. Therefore, the damage caused is relatively large, even though the Atlas Mountains are not densely populated. The death toll could well reach several thousands.
This is a timely reminder that an earthquake in Israel is not a question of if, but only a question of when, and the picture in Israel is similar in some ways to what happened in Morocco. The epicenters of the expected tremors along the Dead Sea rift are close to population centers. Earthquakes on the scale of the Moroccan earthquake have already struck in Israel many times, and quite a few buildings in Israel were built before there was a proper construction standard (since the 1980s).
Although the people and the governments of Israel have known this for generations, the preparation by the State of Israel is severely lacking. The State Comptroller releases recurring reports on the subject, and the government simply does not address them. The three most critical and urgent action items are strengthening buildings, especially public buildings (for example schools and hospitals); educating the population on how to prepare and how to act when the earthquake hits; and above all, establishing in the State of Israel one body with the responsibility, authority, and significant budgets to manage the state's preparations for the expected earthquake, the management of the organization and rescue operations when the earthquake happens, and the reconstruction of the country in the subsequent weeks, months, and years. There is no such body in the country, and it is imperative that one is established immediately.
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco a few days ago caused extensive damage to life and property in Marrakesh and above all, to the villages in the Atlas Mountains to the south. The stronger, closer, and shallower an earthquake, the greater the expected damage. Another critical factor that affects the extent of the damage is the quality of the construction. Construction in Morocco is generally of low quality: buildings lack proper foundations, are made from blocks, and lack reinforcements. Therefore, the damage caused is relatively large, even though the Atlas Mountains are not densely populated. The death toll could well reach several thousands.
This is a timely reminder that an earthquake in Israel is not a question of if, but only a question of when, and the picture in Israel is similar in some ways to what happened in Morocco. The epicenters of the expected tremors along the Dead Sea rift are close to population centers. Earthquakes on the scale of the Moroccan earthquake have already struck in Israel many times, and quite a few buildings in Israel were built before there was a proper construction standard (since the 1980s).
Although the people and the governments of Israel have known this for generations, the preparation by the State of Israel is severely lacking. The State Comptroller releases recurring reports on the subject, and the government simply does not address them. The three most critical and urgent action items are strengthening buildings, especially public buildings (for example schools and hospitals); educating the population on how to prepare and how to act when the earthquake hits; and above all, establishing in the State of Israel one body with the responsibility, authority, and significant budgets to manage the state's preparations for the expected earthquake, the management of the organization and rescue operations when the earthquake happens, and the reconstruction of the country in the subsequent weeks, months, and years. There is no such body in the country, and it is imperative that one is established immediately.