Jerusalem – 5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Israel

Jerusalem – A Richter scale 5.5 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter near Cyprus shook the eastern Mediterranean on Friday night, with locals in countries throughout the Levant reporting the quake.

Residents in Israel reported feeling the tremors, with hundreds of citizens picking up the phone and calling police to announce the event. No damages or injuries were reported.

The earthquake was felt as far south as Rishon Lezion, and as far north as Safed.

Residents in Lebanon also reported the earthquake, with Lebanese media saying tremors were felt in Beirut, Sidon, Tyre and the coastal city of Tripoli.

Police said they received upwards of 100 phone calls in localities nationwide shortly after 9:50 p.m. Residents in Safed, Beit She’an and neighboring towns in the Jordan Valley, Migdal Haemek, Araaba, Haifa and other cities and towns called their local authorities to report the tectonic event.

In addition, residents of Jerusalem and Carmiel reported feeling the earth tremble.

“The whole bed was shaking for a pretty long time,” one Jerusalem resident told The Jerusalem Post. “I’m used to earthquakes in California, and this one was strong.”

Last December, a light 3.8 earthquake shook the Galilee region with its epicenter in the Hula Valley and Sea of Galil