Is there any connection between the 2025 Crete earthquake and the 1992 Cairo earthquake?
The National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) revealed the reason why some areas felt Wednesday's earthquake more than areas closer to the epicenter.
The NRIAG reported that earthquake on Wednesday felt by residents measured 6.4 on the Richter scale and occurred 431 kilometers north of the city of Rashid, at a depth of 76 kilometers below the Earth's surface.
Many worried citizens have compared the earthquake that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday morning to the devastating 1992 Cairo earthquake, which resulted in over 500 deaths and 12,000 people injured.
NRIAG stated, via its X account, that there is a difference between the strength and intensity of an earthquake.
The strength is a fixed number that expresses the amount of energy released from the epicenter, while intensity expresses its impact and varies from one region to another. The intensity of an earthquake meanwhile varies according to several factors, such as distance from the epicenter, soil type, and the nature and resistance of the impacted building.
The Modified Mercalli scale is often used to estimate the intensity of earthquakes, ranging from I, which is imperceptible, to XII, which represents total destruction.
The institute said that comparisons between earthquakes are unscientific and lack any physical basis. This is because earthquake sources are different, and the propagation of seismic waves varies from one region to another.
It also added that there are complex geological and technical factors; a 6.5 magnitude earthquake may cause destruction in one area while passing through another without damage – what matters in this case is intensity, not strength.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
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