A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck Eilat in southern Israel yesterday morning, triggering sirens and temporarily shutting down Ramon Airport. Fortunately, The Times of Israel reports that there were no injuries or fatalities, as residents of Eilat and surrounding towns were able to move away from structures in accordance with Home Front Command guidelines. Minor damage was reported at the airport, including windows broken by the tremors. However, flights were able to resume the same day.
After the quake, the Israel Airports Authority briefly closed Ramon Airport, saying it had to perform “inspections and infrastructure checks” to ensure safety.
“Following the completion of the scans and infrastructure checks, Ramon Airport has resumed full operations,” the IAA said in a statement shortly afterward.
The IDF Home Front Command noted Wednesday that 2027 had already been designated as a “year of earthquake preparedness.”
The Home Front Command said it was advancing a “broad national plan to strengthen the home front’s preparedness to deal with a major earthquake.”
“The year 2027 has been designated the year of earthquake preparedness, during which the command will lead a series of training sessions and exercises, culminating in a major national drill,” it said.
Last year, lawmakers warned that Israel was unprepared for a major earthquake, with no central body responsible for implementing a nationwide emergency response plan for civilians and authorities to follow. Since then, preparedness efforts have focused on training local authorities to coordinate emergency responses, improving search-and-rescue capabilities, and strengthening the IDF’s readiness to respond to earthquakes.
Historically, earthquake response efforts have been managed by government ministries and local councils, with much of the responsibility falling on local authorities. Lawmakers have warned that a major earthquake could result in mass casualties, particularly given the vulnerability of older buildings.
Many structures built before 1980, including hospitals, were constructed before updated earthquake-resistant building codes were introduced, leaving them vulnerable to significant damage. Efforts have been underway to address these risks through the gradual reinforcement of older residential buildings.
The Fellowship and our supporters praise God that no one was injured or killed in this earthquake and that flights were able to resume the same day. We also pray for Israel as it continues to strengthen its earthquake preparedness and emergency response capabilities.