JERUSALEM – Israel has formally unveiled a nationwide earthquake early warning system that may alert Israel's Home Front Command (HFC) within seconds of seismic indicators being detected.

According to the Geological Survey of Israel, the TRUAA system, which cost the Israeli government about $14 million to create and has been tested since 2014, consists of 120 seismic sensors installed across the country.

If the earthquake has a magnitude greater than 4.4, the system will alert the HFC, which will send out an earthquake siren that can be heard on smartphones. The technology will take several seconds to identify the quakes, followed by "another second to broadcast the alarm via the HFC alert," according to Ran Nof, a seismologist with the Geological Survey.

People in Jerusalem will have three seconds to react to an earthquake in the northern Dead Sea, while those in Tel Aviv and Haifa will have 18 seconds and nearly half a minute, respectively, according to Nof.

"It's still working. Buildings do not fall down instantly. It might take a few extra seconds, but people will still have enough time to react "Added he. Israel should also spend in hardening structures and training the public basic preparedness and response, according to the Israeli seismologist.

Israel is a small and narrow country located on the Syrian-African rift valley, which is prone to earthquakes due to its location in a region of high seismic activity.

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