Lake Kinneret
Lake KinneretIsrael news photo: Flash 90

An earthquake was felt in northern Israel Thursday night. The epicenter of the quake was in the Kinneret. The quake reached 3.5 on the Richter scale, and was felt in communities surrounding the lake. No injuries or damage were reported.

Just five days ago, an earthquake was felt in southern and central Israel. It was felt on the Sabbath at about 4:15 PM local time. The quake was measured at 6.4 on the Richter scale, and had its epicenter beneath the Mediterranean about 40 kilometers under the sea bed, 70 kilometers west of Crete. In Israel, reports of the tremor were received from citizens in central and southern Israel, including Raanana, Rehovot and Ashkelon. It was reportedly felt mostly on the top floors of tall buildings. No injuries or damage were reported in that quake as well.

Last June, an earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale was felt in southern Israel. In May 2012, an earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter scale with its epicenter in Cyprus was felt throughout Israel. More than a 100 calls by concerned citizens were received in the northern city of Tzfat alone, reports said. The quake was felt as far as Bat Yam, Kfar Saba, Ramat Hasharon, Ra'anana and other areas in central Israel.

In recent years, school children around the country, from kindergarten age and up, have participated in annual earthquake drills in their schools, practicing safe steps to take when the ground starts shaking.

In a recent interview, Dr. Ephraim Laor, who headed the National Steering Committee for Earthquake Preparedness, told Arutz Sheva that each Israeli must prepare himself for a major earthquake that could hit Israel. Experts have warned that Israel is expected to be hit by a major earthquake in the coming years.