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In Rishon Lezion and Ashkelon, Reinforced "Safe Rooms" Save Lives in Two Direct Rocket Strikes

(Times of Israel) The IDF Home Front Command requires that a reinforced "safe room" be built into modern apartment buildings. In Rishon Lezion, apartment owner Amir, who lives on the top floor of a six-floor building, said, "we followed the instructions [and entered the safe room]. We heard the huge explosion. We knew the house had been hit. We came out; really, everything was destroyed. I calmed my wife, and we walked downstairs." The rocket - said to be carrying 90 kg. of explosives - penetrated through three floors of the building, causing immense damage, but no serious injuries, because all the residents were in their safe rooms. Rishon Lezion is Israel's fourth-largest city, just south of Tel Aviv and about 60 km. from Gaza. Yossi Vaknin, whose apartment in Ashkelon took a direct hit, said, "My family are a disciplined lot. My wife and my four children...were in the safe room where they were supposed to be, and they're all fine....They couldn't get the door open after the rocket strike." The fire department extricated them.
2012-11-21 00:00:00
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