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Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Science
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Tremors rattle Egypt - Egypt - Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt recently suffered two successive tremors. Reem Leila tries to find out if the country is becoming an earthquake zone. In the past couple of weeks, Egypt experienced two earthquakes. The first, of a magnitude 6.4 on the Richter scale, took place on 14 May. Eight days later, residents woke up to a 6.2 earthquake. They were felt by wide segments of the population across various governorates — from Greater Cairo and the Delta to the northern coast. Although the epicentres of both quakes were located south of the Greek island of Crete, hundreds of kilometres away from Egyptian territory, their strength, exceeding six according to the Richter scale, was enough to concern Egyptians. Citizens reacted strongly. Social media was filled with testimonies and questions about the nature and causes of the earthquakes, and an increased search for information regarding safety. According to the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Egypt is not located within major seismic belts and earthquakes occurring deep in the Mediterranean Sea do not pose a direct threat to the country. According to Sherif Al-Hadi, head of the Earthquake Department at the NRIAG, Egypt is not sitting on any seismic belts and is not threatened by earthquakes. 'The term seismic belt means that we would be constantly alert day and night due to consecutive earthquakes,' Al-Hadi said, explaining that what is currently happening is that Egypt is affected by several seismic belts outside its borders. Among these seismic belts are those passing through the Mediterranean Sea south of the islands of Cyprus and Crete. One of those is a low-activity seismic belt 390 km away from Cairo. The other is more than 700 km away from Cairo and has almost no effect on Upper Egypt. Al-Hadi confirmed that Egypt 'is at a safe distance, and what is happening is only the sensation of tremors, especially on the upper floors, without any damage to infrastructure or any losses of lives or property.' Abbas Sharaki, a Cairo University geology professor, told Al-Ahram Weekly that most of the earthquakes felt in Egypt originate from the Mediterranean Sea, particularly from the regions near Greece and Turkey. Sharaki said that some of the zones prone to feeling earthquakes include the Red Sea and the Suez Canal, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the area extending from the Dead Sea up to Turkey. Greece is one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world, he added. However, he added that although thousands of earthquakes are recorded there each year, severe damage or fatalities are rare. He described the region as a very active and systematic seismic zone that has experienced stronger earthquakes in the past, but none have seriously impacted Egypt. Sharaki also noted that the NRIAG is closely monitoring the aftershocks, which so far have been mild. Over the long-term there are expectations of an earthquake occurring in the seismic belt area with a magnitude 6.5. Such events, according to Al-Hadi, happen from time to time but unlike weather, earthquakes cannot be predicted because the nature of the earth is completely different from the nature of the weather. 'What we do is estimate the likelihood of earthquakes based on seismic zones, which may become dormant at times and active at others,' he said. Al-Hadi advised the public, when feeling any tremors, to avoid elevators and use the stairs, and to remain calm, as panic can lead to chaos and stampedes, which in turn cause injuries. * A version of this article appears in print in the 29 May, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
25-05-2025
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Egypt's seismic experts refute ‘Day of Destruction' prediction
The Head of the Astronomy Department at the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) Ashraf Shaker responded to predictions spread across social media of disastrous earthquakes on Sunday, May 25, which has been dubbed the 'Day of Destruction.' During a phone interview with 'Hadrat al-Mowaten' program on Saturday evening, Shaker refuted the idea that the alignment of planets can cause earthquakes or other such events on Earth. The closest distance between Earth and any star, such as the sun, is four light-years away, and therefore, if anything emanates from this star, it would impact the Earth four years later. And the Professor of Seismology at the NRIAG, Salah al-Hadidi, denied predictions of explosions and earthquakes occurring on May 25. During another phone interview with the 'Hadrat al-Mowaten' on Saturday evening, Hadidi accused Dutch researcher and seismologist Frank Hoogerbeets as inciting this wave of panic since the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Hadidi said, 'Frank Hoogerbeets is a paranoid man. People lived in fear for four months after he talked about a devastating earthquake in Egypt following the earthquake in Turkey and Syria. Nothing happened, and it all turned out to be a hoax.' Mediterranean earthquakes have existed since ancient times, and their impact on Egypt is usually weak. He advised people to follow NRIAG's website for accurate information.
Egypt Independent
22-05-2025
- Science
- Egypt Independent
Egypt records 3 aftershocks from Greece earthquake
Egypt's National Seismological Network, affiliated with the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), recorded three aftershocks following the earthquake that struck southern Greece this Thursday, which was felt by residents in Egypt. According to the National Seismological Network's official website, these three tremors – each measuring less than 3.5 on the Richter scale – occurred after an earthquake hit Crete (southern Greece) earlier this morning. A powerful 6.24-magnitude earthquake struck near Crete in Greece early Thursday, with tremors felt as far away as Egypt. The head of the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), Taha Rabah, explained that the earthquake's epicenter was located 499 kilometers north of Marsa Matruh, at a depth of 68.91 kilometers. And earlier on May 14, a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale struck Greece and Crete on Wednesday morning, Reuters reported in a breaking news alert. The seismic activity was also perceptible to residents in Egypt.
Al-Ahram Weekly
22-05-2025
- Science
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Magnitude 6.2 earthquake hits Egypt Thursday early morning - Society
A 6.2-magnitude earthquake on the Richter scale was recorded 499 km north of Marsa Matrouh in the Mediterranean Sea at 6:19am Cairo Time (GMT +3) on Thursday, according to Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG). Sherif El-Hady, the head of the Seismology Department at NRIAG, revealed details of the earthquake that occurred on Thursday morning on the island of Crete. He confirmed that the tremor was felt in Egypt, but to a limited extent compared to the previous earthquake, as its epicentre was about 499 kilometres north of Marsa Matrouh. In remarks to Cairo24 news website, he noted that the National Seismic Network stations also recorded seven aftershocks of the main tremor, all measuring less than 3.5 on the Richter scale. He indicated that all aftershocks of the main earthquake were minor and went unnoticed by residents, reassuring the public that the situation is stable and there is no cause for concern. El-Hady added that the earthquake caused no loss of lives or properties. However, he affirmed that the institute had received reports from some citizens saying they felt the tremor. Last week, a similar earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale hit Egypt in the early morning hours and was felt in Cairo, causing panic. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Egypt Independent
15-05-2025
- Science
- Egypt Independent
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
