A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near Suez early Monday, prompting emergency response measures
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck near the Egyptian city of Suez early Monday, shaking buildings across Cairo and prompting authorities to activate emergency response plans. No casualties or significant damage were immediately reported, but officials placed emergency services on high alert as a precaution.
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck eastern Egypt at around 3:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) on Monday, according to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.
The epicentre was located about 40 kilometres north of Suez, with tremors felt across a wide area, including the capital Cairo and as far as El-Arish near Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip.
Theย U.S.ย Geologicalย Surveyย recordedย theย shallowย earthquakeย atย magnitudeย 5.0,ย revisingย anย earlierย estimate.
Emergencyย plansย activated
Following the quake, Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered the activation of emergency response plans nationwide and instructed ambulance services to remain at the highest level of readiness.
Despite the widespread tremors, authorities said there were no immediate reports of deaths, injuries or major damage, according to the health ministry and the Egyptian Red Crescent.
Residentsย urgedย toย remainย cautious
The Egyptian Red Crescent advised residents to avoid old and structurally weakened buildings, many of which are found in Cairo’s densely populated working-class districts, until any potential risks could be assessed.
Authoritiesย continuedย monitoringย theย situationย whileย urgingย theย publicย toย remainย calmย andย followย officialย safetyย guidance.
Rareย butย deadlyย history
Strongย earthquakesย areย relativelyย uncommonย inย Egypt,ย althoughย theย countryย hasย experiencedย devastatingย seismicย eventsย inย theย past.
The deadliest earthquake in Egypt’s modern history occurred in October 1992, when a magnitude 5.8 quake struck near Cairo, killing more than 500 people, injuring thousands and leaving many others homeless.
ยฉ๐๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐๐ง๐ซ๐๐ฉ๐จ๐ซ๐ญ.๐๐จ๐ฆ/๐๐๐๐ข๐จ/๐๐
