Magnitude 5.2–5.4 earthquake strikes near Suez, felt in Cairo; no casualties reported
A shallow earthquake with magnitudes reported between 5.0 and 5.4 struck northeast of Suez at 3 a.m. local time on Monday, shaking buildings as far as Cairo. Egyptian authorities activated nationwide emergency plans but reported no immediate casualties or damage.
A shallow earthquake rattled northeastern Egypt in the early hours of Monday, with tremors felt across the capital Cairo and communities along the Suez Canal. Multiple international agencies recorded the event, with magnitude estimates ranging from 5.0 to 5.4, while Egyptian authorities moved quickly to activate emergency protocols.
The seismic event
The quake occurred at 3:00 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT), with the epicentre located roughly 36 to 41 kilometres northeast of the port city of Suez, approximately 120 to 130 kilometres east of Cairo. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported a magnitude of 5.3, while the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) measured it at 5.4. Egypt's own National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) registered the tremor at magnitude 5.2, placing the epicentre at coordinates 32.61 east and 30.30 north. All agencies agreed on a shallow depth of 10 kilometres.
- USGS (initial)
- 5 magnitude
- NRIAG (Egypt)
- 5.2 magnitude
- USGS (revised)
- 5.3 magnitude
- GFZ (Germany)
- 5.4 magnitude
Emergency response
Egypt's Ministry of Health, under minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, activated a nationwide emergency plan and ordered ambulance services into a state of maximum alert. The ministry coordinated with provincial authorities to monitor the aftermath but reported no injuries. The Egyptian Red Crescent confirmed it had triggered its emergency response plan in the governorates where the shaking was felt and stated it had received no reports of casualties or property damage.
Avoid approaching old buildings or those showing signs of damage, and consult official updates while authorities continue assessing the situation.
Risk and historical context
Strong earthquakes are uncommon in Egypt. The deadliest in the country's modern history occurred in October 1992, when a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck Cairo, killing more than 500 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Monday's quake, while widely felt, did not approach that level of destruction. Humanitarian organisations urged residents to stay clear of structures exhibiting cracks or other damage as aftershock assessments continued.
Data under review
The USGS noted that seismologists may revise the reported magnitude as additional data becomes available. The shake-severity map could also be updated. For now, the absence of casualties and the swift activation of emergency systems have defined the immediate aftermath of the strongest tremor to rattle the Suez region in recent years.
