(JTA) — An earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale hit northern Israel, the seventh temblor in two days.
Tuesday morning’s earthquake hit near the border with Lebanon, and marked the highest magnitude quake of the seven that began on Sunday evening with a 2.7 temblor, Haaretz reported. Residents of the Upper Galilee reported feeling the quake on Tuesday, according to the newspaper. No injuries or damage were reported.
Israel sits on the Syrian-African fault, and mild earthquakes are not unusual in the region.
Most schools and hospitals in Israel were constructed before new building codes were enacted that include earthquake safety regulations, and at least 50,000 residential buildings in Israel do not meet earthquake-proof standards, according to Haaretz.
Meanwhile, Israel’s chief rabbis have called for a public day of fasting and prayer in order to bring rain to the parched country.
Thursday has been designated as a day of fasting and prayer to atone for sins that the rabbis believe could be contributing to the lack of rain, The Jerusalem Post reported Tuesday.
Israel is in its seventh year of drought, with this winter predicted to be the driest of them. In fact, dry, warm weather has been the norm in Israel despite the fact that winter officially began weeks ago.
