Posted on 03/04/23
| News Source: The Media Line
Israel could be hit by a massive earthquake at any moment that would see thousands of buildings crumble unless it invests billions of dollars in reinforcing old structures around the country.
According to Dr. Ittai Kurzon, a seismologist at the Geological Survey of Israel, the government must invest $10 billion to reinforce buildings and infrastructure built before 1980.
They must dig “deep into their pockets and make a plan with $10 billion – not million, billion – that will strengthen construction, hospitals, schools and all those very old buildings where many people live,” Kurzon told The Media Line. “That’s one thing that the government should do.”
Israel lies on the Syrian-African Rift, with the Dead Sea Fault being its primary source of seismic activity.
Although it is currently impossible to predict exactly when or where the next major earthquake will hit, historically the country has had such an event occur once every century on average.
The last big earthquake took place in 1927, killing nearly 300 people and causing extensive damage in Jerusalem, Jericho and other cities.
“It will happen somewhere between Eilat and Metula on the Dead Sea Fault or on the Carmel Fault,” Kurzon warned. “It will happen and we have to prepare for that moment.”
The $10 billion building plan, Kurzon said, could be spread out over several years in order to lessen the economic burden. It represents a much smaller sum than what Israel would have to spend in the aftermath of a major quake if it does nothing to prepare.
Reconstruction costs in Turkey, for example, are expected to reach upwards of $34 billion in direct physical damage, according World Bank estimates. A report published by the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation put that figure significantly higher, at $84 billion.