Omanghana
A magnitude 5.5 earthquake struck northeastern Egypt early Monday, August 3, 2026, shaking buildings in Cairo and several other governorates and prompting authorities to activate emergency response measures.
The earthquake occurred at about 3:00 a.m. local time, equivalent to midnight GMT, according to Egypt’s National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.
NRIAG placed the epicenter approximately 40 kilometers north of Suez at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers.
International monitoring agencies recorded slightly different measurements. The German Research Centre for Geosciences estimated the earthquake’s magnitude at 5.4, while the United States Geological Survey registered it at magnitude 5.0.
Differences in magnitude estimates are common immediately after seismic events because monitoring agencies use varying instruments, data and calculation methods.
The tremor lasted several seconds and was felt across Cairo, Giza, Suez and Ismailia, as well as parts of the Nile Delta.
Reports indicated that the shaking reached El-Arish, close to Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip. Weaker tremors were also reportedly detected in parts of Jordan and Israel.
Many residents were awakened by the movement, with some temporarily leaving their homes and hotels as a precaution.
Following the earthquake, Egyptian authorities activated emergency plans to assess buildings, roads and other critical infrastructure.
Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar placed ambulance services in affected governorates on maximum alert and directed officials to monitor hospital capacity in case of an increase in casualties.
The Egyptian Red Crescent also activated local response teams to support safety assessments and assist residents where necessary.
People were advised to remain cautious around old, dilapidated or visibly damaged buildings until structural inspections could be completed. Particular attention was placed on densely populated neighborhoods in Cairo containing ageing structures.
Despite the widespread shaking, authorities reported no deaths or major building collapses in the immediate aftermath.
One person reportedly sustained a minor injury, while three families were evacuated from a structurally compromised building in northern Cairo as a precaution.
Officials continued monitoring the affected areas for possible aftershocks and previously undetected damage.
Although Egypt is located near seismic zones connected to the Gulf of Suez, powerful shallow earthquakes on land are relatively uncommon.
The country’s most destructive earthquake in recent history occurred near Dahshur, south of Cairo, in October 1992. The magnitude 5.8 disaster killed more than 500 people and caused extensive structural damage across the capital and surrounding areas.
Source: Omanghana
