Fifth earthquake in a week strikes Israel

A minor earthquake struck northern Israel, the fifth in a week.

Tuesday morning’s temblor, which measured 3.3 on the Richter scale and was centered just northwest of the Sea of Galilee, was felt from Tiberias up to the Golan Heights.

It came a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered earthquake drills in schools on the same day that two earthquakes struck.

All five of the quakes have been centered near the Sea of Galilee, which is located on the Great Syria-African Rift, which has been the center of several earthquakes, large and small.

Netanyahu on Monday also said instructions on earthquake preparedness should be updated and publicized for all citizens. His instructions followed a discussion Monday with government ministers on national preparedness in the event of a major earthquake.

It is unclear what the string of temblors means for future earthquakes.

Hundreds of people died and were injured in a 6.2 magnitude earthquake in 1927 that centered on the Dead Sea.