Astronomical Research Institute: Egypt is safe from major seismic belts... Aftershocks of the Suez earthquake are not a cause for concern
Cairo - Ahmed Sabri Dr. Sherif Al-Hadi, head of the Seismology Department at the National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research, reassured citizens, emphasizing that Egypt is not located within the main seismic belts and that the aftershocks following the Gulf of Suez earthquake were all weak and imperceptible, posing no cause for concern.
Al-Hadi explained during a television appearance that all recorded aftershocks, totaling six tremors, had magnitudes below 3 on the Richter scale, which is why citizens did not feel them. He noted that the occurrence of limited aftershocks following earthquakes is a natural phenomenon, typically detected only by specialized monitoring instruments.
He stressed that Egypt is distant from the main seismic belts, clarifying that the nearest one is the Eastern Mediterranean belt, located approximately 400 kilometers from Egypt’s borders. He added that while there is known seismic activity in the Gulf of Suez, Gulf of Aqaba, and Red Sea regions, it differs in intensity from the seismic activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, and its impact is often limited to stirring anxiety among citizens.
He pointed out that the feeling of aftershocks by a large number of Cairo residents is due to the epicenter being relatively closer to the capital compared to previous earthquakes, making the sensation more pronounced. However, he affirmed that this does not necessarily indicate an increase in danger.
The head of the Seismology Department urged citizens to remain calm and act appropriately during earthquakes by staying in safe places inside buildings, avoiding the use of elevators, and refraining from rushing to staircases during the tremor. He also advised residents of upper floors not to leave their locations until the shaking subsides.
Earlier, the head of the Seismology Department had clarified that the earthquake recorded by stations of the National Seismic Network early yesterday measured 5.5 on the Richter scale and occurred in the Gulf of Suez area, a region geologically known for tectonic activity and the presence of active faults. He explained that the earthquake resulted from the movement of one of the active faults in the area, noting that earthquakes occur due to the accumulation of stress within rocks on either side of a fault before being released suddenly in the form of seismic waves.
For his part, Dr. Bassem Nabawi, head of the National Institute for Astronomical and Geophysical Research, stated that the institute recorded between five and six aftershocks following the earthquake as of yesterday afternoon, noting that they were announced via the institute’s official social media pages.
In radio interviews, Nabawi explained that the occurrence of aftershocks following earthquakes is a natural phenomenon, pointing out that their magnitude is usually lower than that of the main earthquake. He confirmed that all recorded aftershocks had magnitudes below 3 on the Richter scale, a level that citizens typically do not feel.
