6.4 magnitude quake near Crete wakes up residents of Cairo, northern Egypt

Egypt Today

14-05-2025

A view of Cairo during mid-morning rush hour. Dominic Chavez/World Bank
CAIRO – 14 May 2025: Cairo, along with several governorates in northern Egypt, woke up to tremors at around 2 AM on Wednesday after a powerful earthquake struck near the island of Crete.
The seismology department at the Egyptian National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) recorded the quake 631 kilometers north of Rosetta.
The Athens Geodynamic Institute reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of 35 km near the island of Karpathos in the Mediterranean Sea, prompting Greek authorities to issue a temporary tsunami warning.
The tremor also extended to countries as far as Turkey and Syria.
NRIAG data
According to data from the seismology department, the quake occurred at 01:51:15 AM local time at a latitude of 35.12° N, a longitude of 27.0° E and a depth of 76 km.
No casualties or damage to property were reported across Egypt.
Taha Rabeh, head of NRIAG, stated that the tremor across Egypt lasted less than 20 seconds, noting that the epicenter was around 418 kilometers north of Marsa Matrouh on the North Coast.
Speaking to Egypt Today, Rabeh said the significant depth of the quake explains why many people in Cairo and other governorates felt it despite the long geographical distance.
He explained that the area east of Crete in the Mediterranean Sea is known for its seismic activity due to the subduction of the African plate beneath the European plate and the presence of an active fault, making it prone to earthquakes.
He noted that this recent quake was relatively strong compared to the usual seismic activity in this area.
The institute's emergency room is fully mobilized to monitor any potential aftershocks or changes in water conditions in the area, Rabeh stressed.
Aftershocks concerns
He advised citizens to remain calm during any earthquake and to seek safe locations, such as under a sturdy table or piece of furniture, while avoiding windows and unsecured objects, warning against rushing outside, which could lead to greater disasters than the quake itself.
Head of the seismology department Sherif El-Hadi reassured residents there are no fears of significant aftershocks, as they are expected to be minor.
He explained that residents felt the tremor in Cairo due to the soft clay soil, which was affected by the earthquake's depth despite the distance from the epicenter.
Meanwhile, the Egyptian Red Crescent's operations room announced that it is monitoring the aftermath of the earthquake 24/7 and has activated emergency plans in coastal cities in coordination with relevant authorities, preparing for any developments.
Urgent instructions were issued to the public, including avoiding near old buildings or those showing cracks, contacting the emergency hotline 15322 for urgent cases.
The seismology department recorded two aftershocks more than 400 km north of Marsa Matrouh with magnitudes 2.69 and 4.26.