"Israel is not prepared for an earthquake: projection of 7,000 casualties"

The state of Israel is not properly prepared for an earthquake. Most hospitals in the north are not earthquake-resistant; 2,350 schools operate in buildings that are not earthquake-resistant; 99% of the public buildings that require reinforcement have not yet been strengthened. In fact, only 52 public buildings have been reinforced in the past decade, 50 schools and two hospitals have been partially renovated.
State Comptroller Joseph Shapira's report on "preparedness for earthquakes - buildings and infrastructure" published revealed the enormous destruction expected in Israel during a major earthquake due to the failure of the reinforcement of schools, hospitals and fire stations.
 According to the government-approved deployment framework, Israel must prepare for an earthquake with 7,000 casualties, 8,600 seriously injured, 37,000 lightly injured, 9,500 trapped in rubble and 170,000 homeless. The main reason for the difficult scenario: Until 1980 there was no mandatory building standard for earthquakes and therefore structures that were built before that date are in danger of collapse.
 The comptroller's report reveals that between 2,400 schools (of which only 2% were reinforced), about 730 kindergartens, about 25 hospital buildings and another 75 medical institutions, some 180 stations Police, Magen David Adom (MDA), firefighting and prison facilities, and about 1,100 other public buildings.
 2,400 schoolchildren who do not meet the standards of earthquakes constitute 44% of Israel's public school buildings, meaning that half of the next generation of the State of Israel is in danger. The visitor notes that "an earthquake, if it occurs during the daytime, while the students are in schools, is liable to cause mass harm to the students."
 Except for the 50 buildings that have been strengthened, another 200 are in the planning stages, meaning that even after they are reinforced, only 10% of the old buildings will be resistant. Among the reasons for the slow pace: the Ministry of Education found it difficult to harness some of the local authorities for this purpose, disagreements arose regarding the system to strengthen the buildings and the budget allocated for this purpose was low.
 The government approved a NIS 500 million plan to protect against missiles and earthquakes over the next ten years.
The situation is even worse because in Israel many students study in prefabricated structures that are not earthquake-resistant, even if they were built after 1980, as well as private schools operating in private buildings. These institutions have not been tested for earthquake resistance. It also turns out that the policy for insuring the students has an exception that states that the insurance does not cover an earthquake or an accident that has occurred.
It turns out that the strengthening of hospitals in danger areas is carried out in a very partial manner. At Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and at the Fourier Hospital, there was still no strengthening, and only the central wing was strengthened at Ziv Hospital and at Ziv Hospital one of the four towers was built to stabilize the building.
 
The comptroller reveals what he describes as "real deficiencies in the insurance coverage of citizens and residents against earthquakes." The terms of the insurance policies generally stipulate that construction must be completed within 12 months of the earthquake, but in most cases the chances of this happening are not high.
 State Committee Chairman MK Shelly Yachimovich of the Zionist camp announced that although the Knesset is leaving for the holiday, it will convene next Tuesday a special session on the State Comptroller's report on the preparations for the earthquake.