Lebanon's National Council for Scientific Research denied on Monday Israeli reports that a large-scale earthquake could soon rock Lebanon and parts of the Jewish state, saying that it was "impossible" to predict such seismic activity.

The council's secretary general, Mouein Hamzeh, said "no new evidence suggests an impending large-scale earthquake in Lebanon, as was reported by media outlets relying on sources in Israel - in any case, attempting to predict a seismic shock is almost impossible."

Israeli authorities had said on Monday a strong earthquake could soon rock Lebanon and parts of Israel, and urged health officials in northern Israel to make preparations for such an event. "The probability of an earthquake of a magnitude of up to 6 on the Richter scale, originating in Lebanon and being felt in Israel has increased," the Health Ministry said in a letter sent to medical officials in northern Israel.

Since February, abnormal seismic activity has been noted in South Lebanon, which had suffered some 500 minor earthquakes in a three-month period, Health Ministry Director General Avi Yisraeli said in the letter.

"In May, the tremors have become more intense and were felt in northern Israel," he said, adding that "should an earthquake of such magnitude hit northern Israel it may cause substantial infrastructural damage in the area."

"All medical facilities and organizations must do everything they can to enhance the level of readiness," Yisraeli said in the letter published by the ministry on Monday.

Some seismological experts point out that quakes historically have rocked the region every eight decades, and the last one was just about 81 years ago. At least 300 people were killed in a July 11, 1927, temblor. -AFP