Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake Strikes Near Egypt’s Suez, Felt Across Cairo
CAIRO — August 3, 2026 — A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck northeastern Egypt in the early hours of Monday, August 3, sending tremors across the capital Cairo and several other governorates, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ) .
The quake occurred at approximately 3:00 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its epicentre initially located about 40 kilometres north of the city of Suez . The Egyptian National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) recorded the earthquake at a slightly higher magnitude of 5.5, placing the epicentre in eastern Cairo province . Slight variations in magnitude readings are common as different seismic agencies employ separate measurement methods.
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Tremors Felt Across Region
The shaking was widely felt across Greater Cairo and several other governorates, with AFP journalists in the capital reporting being woken by the tremors . The shaking reached as far east as El-Arish near Egypt’s border with the Gaza Strip . Local media reported residents briefly leaving their homes and buildings as a precaution . Reports also indicated tremors were felt in parts of Israel, Syria and Lebanon .
Emergency Response Activated, No Casualties Reported
Egyptian authorities activated emergency response plans following the earthquake. Health Minister Khaled Abdel Ghaffar ordered the central crisis and emergency operations room to convene and directed public hospitals nationwide to raise their level of preparedness, ensuring emergency departments and ambulance services were fully operational .
The Egyptian Red Crescent confirmed it had activated its emergency response plan in affected governorates . As of Monday morning, no casualties or significant property damage had been reported .
The Egyptian Red Crescent urged residents to stay away from old or dilapidated buildings, which are common in some of Cairo’s working-class neighbourhoods . Authorities continued to monitor the situation with emergency teams remaining on alert .
Historical Context
While Egypt lies close to active tectonic zones around the Gulf of Suez, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, making it susceptible to occasional moderate earthquakes, intense tremors are uncommon in the northeast African country . The country’s deadliest earthquake in modern history struck in October 1992, when a 5.8-magnitude quake shook the capital, killing over 500 people and displacing thousands.
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