Magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits Egypt's Ismailia province, felt in Cairo

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake jolted Egypt's northeastern Ismailia province early Monday, shaking buildings and causing alarm in the capital, Cairo, and other cities. The Turkish disaster agency AFAD reported the tremor occurred at 3 a.m. local time, with the U.S. Geological Survey placing its epicenter about 36 kilometers northeast of Suez at a shallow depth of 5.47 kilometers.

While the quake was felt widely, initial reports from Egyptian media indicated no immediate casualties or material damage. The Egyptian Red Crescent stated it had received no reports of injuries or damage, urging residents to avoid old or visibly cracked buildings. The Ministry of Health activated its emergency response plan, placing hospitals on high alert.

Earthquakes causing significant damage are uncommon in Egypt. The country's deadliest modern earthquake occurred in October 1992, when a magnitude 5.8 tremor hit Cairo, killing over 500 people and displacing thousands.