News Brief

(IsraelNN.com) Several Jerusalem city officials spoke to Members of Knesset on Monday, warning them of the disaster that could take place in case of a strong earthquake.  Aharon Ben-Nun, head of the Public Buildings Department in Jerusalem, warned that many public structures, including schools, could collapse in a major earthquake. 

“If there would be a major earthquake today between the hours of 8 a.m. and 12 p.m., we would lose an entire generation,” he said.  Ben-Nun called to place reinforced structures designed by Technion scientist Adrian Scarlat into city classrooms, at an estimated cost of NIS 40,000 per classroom.

Tiberias Mayor Zohar Oved and Eilat Mayor Meir Yitzchak Halevi expressed fear over the possible impact of an earthquake in their cities as well.  Halevi worried that emergency assistance would be slow to arrive in case of an earthquake in Eilat.  “We are not just sitting in the most dangerous spot, but we are also the furthest from the center and the last who will receive help,” he said.