The head of the National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG) in Egypt, Bassem Nabawy, confirmed that the earthquake felt by some citizens on Monday morning was a natural earthquake followed by aftershocks.
Regarding the comparison between the current earthquake and the 1992 earthquake, the head of the institute explained that the two earthquakes are similar in magnitude.
The earthquake on Monday morning measured approximately 5.6 on the Richter scale, while the 1992 earthquake measured approximately 5.8.
However, the real difference lies in the extent of the impact on buildings and the population, not just in the magnitude, Nabawy said.
He pointed out that the 1992 earthquake occurred amidst existing problems related to the condition of some buildings and maintenance levels at the time, whereas Egypt is currently witnessing significant development in its construction sector, which has helped to mitigate the earthquake’s infrastructure impact.
Lingering aftershocks
He explained that about 10 aftershocks were recorded, all of which were imperceptible to the public, as their magnitudes were less than three on the Richter scale.
Nabawy added that it is possible that aftershocks will continue to be recorded in the coming hours or days, which is a normal occurrence after major earthquakes, but assured that the aftershocks recorded so far are not a cause for concern.
Such tremors are normal behavior after moderate and strong earthquakes, he said, and are mostly less intense than the main tremor, with continuous real-time monitoring through the Egyptian National Seismic Network.
1992’s devastating earthquake
On October 12, 1992, an earthquake measuring 5.6 on the Richter scale killed 541 people and injured 6,522 others in Egypt, destroying 398 buildings and leaving another 8,000 close to collapse.
Three years later, the largest earthquake in modern Egyptian history — measuring in at 7.2 on the Richter scale — hit the city of Nuweiba on the Red Sea, killing five people and wounding dozens of others. It was felt in North Africa, Spain and Turkey.
