A 4.2-magnitude earthquake struck southern Israel Thursday morning, setting off alerts in the Dead Sea and southern Negev regions.

There were no reports of injuries or major damage as a result of the quake, the Magen David Adom emergency service said.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center, the epicenter of the event was near Dimona.

The quake occurred more than 20 kilometers (12 miles) underneath the surface of the earth, according to the Geological Survey of Israel.

No significant aftershocks were felt in its wake.

The quake set off sirens and public safety messages from loudspeakers in several towns near its epicenter, leading some residents to mistake them for missile sirens amid heightened........

© The Times of Israel