CAIRO: A moderate earthquake of magnitude 4.86 struck northwest of Cyprus on Wednesday morning, sending tremors as far as Cairo, where residents reported feeling the shaking.
The tremor occurred at 11:09 AM local time, with its epicenter located 502 km from Damietta, Egypt, as confirmed by the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG).
The earthquake, which had a shallow depth, was felt across various parts of Cairo, particularly in the central and northern areas. Local residents described the tremor as brief but noticeable, with some expressing concern as buildings swayed for several seconds.
However, the NRIAG has stated that, despite the widespread sensation of the earthquake, there have been no reports of damage to infrastructure, injuries, or fatalities.
Seismologists at NRIAG have assured the public that the earthquake’s intensity, though significant, did not pose a major threat to the region.
The institute’s spokesperson, Dr. Fathy Abdel Rahman, explained that earthquakes of this magnitude are relatively common in the eastern Mediterranean region, including areas around Cyprus and Turkey.
“While the tremor was felt across Cairo, it was too minor to cause any substantial harm,” he added. This earthquake comes just hours after a second tremor of magnitude 4.6 was recorded near Gazipaşa in Turkey, around 77 km southwest of the city.
According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the Gazipaşa earthquake struck at approximately 12:09 PM local time, with a depth of 40 kilometers.
This second event was also widely felt across surrounding areas, but no immediate reports of damage have emerged.
The earthquake near Cyprus follows a pattern of seismic activity that has occasionally impacted the Mediterranean basin, a region known for its tectonic activity due to the convergence of the Eurasian, African, and Arabian plates.
While earthquakes of this magnitude are not uncommon, residents in Cairo, accustomed to the occasional tremor, expressed concern over the possibility of stronger aftershocks, though no such events have been reported as of now.
The Egyptian authorities have reiterated their commitment to monitoring seismic events, especially after the tremors felt on Wednesday.
NRIAG, the country’s primary body for monitoring earthquakes and geophysical phenomena, continues to work in collaboration with international agencies to track and assess seismic activity.
As of now, there have been no calls for evacuations or changes in public safety protocols, and NRIAG has urged the public to remain calm.
While the earthquake’s occurrence has highlighted the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity, experts are confident that the risk of a larger, more destructive quake remains low for Egypt’s urban centers.
The NRIAG has assured that it will continue to monitor seismic conditions closely and provide updates should any aftershocks or additional events occur.
The earthquake’s tremors in Cairo have also prompted local authorities to review earthquake preparedness protocols, as part of ongoing efforts to ensure public safety in the event of a stronger seismic event in the future.