The National Security Council in the Prime Minister’s Office has instructed government ministries and emergency bodies to prepare for the possibility of a tsunami off Israel’s shore resulting from a big earthquake on the Greek island of Santorini.
Santorini has been rocked by around 2,000 earthquakes in recent days, prompting residents and workers to evacuate to the Greek mainland. Following a powerful 5.2 magnitude quake on Wednesday, the Greek government declared a state of emergency on the island on Thursday.
Israel has a nearly 200-kilometer-long (124-mile) Mediterranean coastline along which are tsunami warning signs pointing to higher ground.
Experts said that in the unlikely event of a major earthquake on Santorini sending tsunami waves to Israel, the country would have up to two hours to get ready.
A summary of an emergency discussion held Wednesday night said, “In light of the distance of the State of Israel from the earthquake zone [approximately 900 kilometers, or 560 miles], the estimated warning time for a tsunami wave from a strong earthquake is up to two hours. Emergency bodies and government ministries are required to prepare for the possibility that the State of Israel may encounter a tsunami wave heading toward it.”
According to the Home Front’s website, a quarter of all known tsunamis were recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, with lethal ones hitting Israel’s beaches in the years 1222, 1303, 1870, and 1908. A small tsunami struck the shores of Jaffa in central Israel in 1953.
