Seismologists fear that in the wake of several small earthquakes during recent weeks may be signaling a large quake should be expected in the near future.
According to Minister of National Infrastructure (Labor) Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, last week he presented fellow ministers with alarming statistics, calling to allocate the necessary funds and manpower to permit high-risk areas to prepare for such an eventuality.
Ben-Eliezer reports that since 15 Feb 2007, seismologists have registered 500 small earthquakes west of Metula and Kiryat Shmona. The minister stated that that priority is being given to hospitals and schools.
Health Ministry Director-General Dr. Avi Yisraeli is calling for urgent action towards preparing Rambam Hospital in Haifa for a quake. Hospital spokesman David Ratner announced on Monday that to his dismay, the major area medical facility is not at all equipped for such an eventuality.
The medical center is the main medical facility for the northern area. One of its buildings is 150 years old and the second 70 years. The main building is the newest, 40 years old. Ratner announced that even the newest of the three structures is not designed to withstand an earthquake and if one strike the hospital or an area close by, the results will be disastrous.
Medically speaking Ratner pointed out, the facility is always ready, being the northern area’s major trauma center, but structurally speaking, the picture is a less attractive one.
Seeking to end on an optimistic note, Ratner stated if the earthquake will wait five years, the hospital’s new campus will be completed and those structures will be able to withstand a quake. In such an event, a number of patients would be able to be shifted to the new facility.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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One Response
you really wonder what may be the appropiate preparations a hospital must take in the case of an earthquake,chas v’sholom. can you measure or predict the intensity let alone the epicenter of an earthquake. a lot has to go into the study of fault lines etc.etc… and then you need mazel.