This caused a wave of panic on social media. Egyptian users began actively discussing various versions, suggesting that the earthquake could have been caused by a large explosion carried out by the IDF in Lebanon four days ago.
Dr. Taha Rabe, director of Egypt’s National Research Institute for Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), explained that the epicenter of the earthquake was about 12 kilometers northeast of Sharm el-Sheikh, and its magnitude was approximately 4.2. .
The Jordan Seismological Observatory also recorded the event, reporting an earthquake of magnitude 4.1 on the Richter scale, with an epicenter 6 km deep in the area of the Gulf of Aqaba, about 150 km south of the city of Aqaba and 9 km east of Sharm. El-Sheikha. Representatives of the observatory stressed that the earthquake occurred along the Dead Sea fault and did not cause destruction.
Meanwhile, Egyptian scientists were quick to refute rumors linking the earthquake to recent explosions in Lebanon. Dr. Abbas Sharaki, professor of geology and water resources at Cairo University, explained in an interview with local media that engineered explosions, including military ones, are capable of creating tremors on the surface, but cannot be compared with natural underground seismic processes that occur at significant speeds. depths.
According to Sharaki, the region of Israel, as well as Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, lie along the Dead Sea Rift, an extensive fault zone about 1,000 kilometers long connected to the African Rift and the Red Sea. He stressed that the tremors recorded in Egypt were of natural origin.
NRIAG representatives added that due to Egypt’s proximity to the rupture zones, seismic activity in the region is observed almost daily, but the tremors are usually small and almost imperceptible.
Previously, Cursor reported that the earthquake captured the president of Moldova live.
