Magnitude 4.5 earthquake sets off alerts in southern Israel, halts Ramon flights
Ramon Airport was evacuated and flight operations suspended for inspections after an earthquake triggered alerts in Eilat and nearby communities on Wednesday.
By Larissa Bell ·
An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.5 triggered alerts across Eilat and other locations in southern Israel on Wednesday, November 11. The tremor was detected in the Red Sea and Gulf of Eilat area. Emergency services had received no reports of injuries at the time of reporting.
Warnings sounded in Eilat, Eilot, Be'er Ora and Elifaz, as well as at the Timna Mines and the Shahoret Industrial Zone. Preliminary information from the Geological Survey of Israel placed the epicenter near Taba in southern Sinai, approximately 224 kilometers from Israel. The initial estimate put the earthquake at magnitude 4.4 and a depth of 8 kilometers. The Energy and Infrastructure Ministry subsequently revised the magnitude to 4.5, citing the survey.
Ramon Airport was evacuated after the alert was received. The Israel Airports Authority subsequently said flights had been suspended pending a full airport inspection and infrastructure checks to ensure aviation safety. N12 News reported broken glass at the airport, but no other damage had been reported at that stage.
The IDF said it was investigating the details of the incident. Two hotel employees described hearing warnings without personally feeling the earthquake. Olga, who works at the Club Hotel, told Maariv that everyone had entered a safe room and security staff later announced that everything was fine. She said nothing had moved where she was on the ground floor. Hava, an employee at the Dan Hotel, said staff heard a Red Alert siren and everyone was fine.
Following Wednesday's earthquake and others in recent years, the Home Front Command announced that it would advance a national plan to improve readiness for a major earthquake. It designated 2027 as a year devoted to earthquake preparedness, with training sessions and exercises leading up to a major national drill.
The plan sets out three areas of preparation. Local authorities will develop reference scenarios and conduct training and drills. The Home Front Command will build its operational capacity and improve search and rescue capabilities. Preparations will also focus on strengthening the IDF's ability to respond to the consequences of a significant earthquake.
Israel's most recent deadly earthquake occurred in 1927 along the Syrian-African Rift. Approximately 300 people died and thousands were injured. Research cited in the report indicates that the region is susceptible to a powerful earthquake roughly every hundred years.
