What the record shows for Israel
The strongest earthquake on record near Israel is a magnitude 7.2 in 1995, centred 27 km SSE of Nuwaybi‘a, Egypt - 31 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 34 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Israel - roughly 2 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 18 tsunamis within 300 km of Israel between -590 and 2004. The most significant was in 1033 near Akko, which killed around 70,000 people.
5 volcanoes are catalogued near Israel, including Unnamed, Unnamed, Ash Shaam, Harrat, Es Safa, Unnamed. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Israel sits along the Dead Sea Transform fault, a major boundary between the Arabian and African plates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Israel.
Earthquake risk in Israel - FAQ
Is Israel at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 2 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.2 in 1995.
What was the biggest earthquake in Israel?
The strongest earthquake on record near Israel is M7.2, in 1995 (27 km SSE of Nuwaybi‘a, Egypt), from USGS.
Does Israel get tsunamis?
Yes - 18 tsunamis since 590 BC (most recently 2004) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 70,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Israel?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.