Magnitude 5.5 earthquake shakes eastern Egypt

A magnitude 5.5 earthquake jolted eastern Egypt early Monday, with tremors felt widely across the country, waking residents in Cairo and reaching as far as El-Arish near the Gaza Strip border. The quake occurred around 3:00 am, approximately 40 kilometers north of the city of Suez, according to Egypt's National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics.

The US Geological Survey provided a slightly lower initial reading of magnitude 5.0 for the shallow tremor. In response, Egypt's health minister, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, ordered the activation of emergency response plans nationwide and instructed ambulance services to maintain maximum preparedness.

Despite the widespread shaking, initial reports from the health ministry and the Egyptian Red Crescent indicated no immediate casualties or damage. The Egyptian Red Crescent advised residents to avoid old and dilapidated buildings, which are prevalent in some of Cairo's older neighborhoods.

While intense earthquakes are uncommon in Egypt, the country has experienced significant seismic events in the past. The deadliest earthquake in modern history struck in October 1992, a 5.8-magnitude quake that killed over 500 people and displaced thousands in the capital.

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Egypt's health minister ordered emergency response plans activated across the country and directed ambulance services to be at "maximum levels of preparedness".