2026 Suez, Egypt Snapshot briefing · Aug 17, 2026 05:00 UTC

Generated Aug 17, 2026 09:00 UTC 16 sources 18/18 facts cited

Introduction

On August 3, 2026, at approximately 03:00 local time (Africa/Cairo; 2026-08-03 00:00 UTC), a magnitude 5 earthquake, with a reported depth of 10 km, occurred 39 km NNE of Suez, Egypt. The USGS epicenter was at 30.3186° latitude and 32.6422° longitude.

Building Damage

Initial official and humanitarian reports indicated no immediate property damage from the earthquake [1][3][7]. However, a more specific report stated that a balcony collapsed in Suez and an old residential building in Cairo’s Rod El-Farag district sustained partial damage; three families were evacuated from that building as a precaution [9]. Buildings were reported shaking across Cairo, while residents in Greater Cairo, the Suez Canal region, and several Egyptian governorates experienced sustained shaking and, in some locations, left buildings as a precaution [2][8]. The Egyptian Red Crescent advised residents to avoid old, dilapidated, or structurally weakened buildings—particularly those with visible cracks or other signs of structural damage—until assessments were completed [2][5][6]. Such older buildings were reported as common in Cairo’s densely populated working-class neighborhoods [2][4].

Infrastructure Impact

NRIAG located the epicenter approximately 38–41 km (24–25 miles) north-northeast of Suez city, near the Great Bitter Lakes stretch of the Suez Canal [10]. The Suez Canal Authority reported no disruption to maritime traffic [11].

Resilience and Recovery

During the first hours, officials reported no casualties or property damage [12]. A subsequent Health Ministry update reported one injury nationwide [13]. Separately, a woman's family reported that she died after collapsing while shielding her children during the tremor; the same report said the Health Ministry recorded one injury and no official fatalities [14]. The family-reported death and the official fatality count are therefore presented as distinct, unresolved attribution levels. Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar ordered nationwide emergency-response activation and maximum ambulance preparedness; authorities also evacuated three families from a damaged residential building in Rod al-Farag [15]. The ministry convened its central crisis and emergency operations room [16]. The Egyptian Red Crescent received a report of a balcony collapse in Suez with no associated casualties [14].

References

  1. [1] en.annahar.com - https://en.annahar.com/en/335341/a-56-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-egypt-and-its-impact-extends-to-southern-palestine-and-jordan
  2. [2] africanews.com - https://www.africanews.com/2026/08/03/magnitude-55-quake-jolts-egypt-triggering-emergency-response
  3. [3] sadanews.ps - https://www.sadanews.ps/en/news/323150.html
  4. [4] southpunjabnews.com - https://www.southpunjabnews.com/2026/08/magnitude-55-earthquake-strikes-near.html
  5. [5] notizie.it - https://www.notizie.it/en/terremoto-scossa-magnitudo-5-2-verifiche-in-corso
  6. [6] timeskuwait.com - https://timeskuwait.com/5-6-magnitude-earthquake-rattles-egypts-sharm-el-sheikh-surrounding-areas
  7. [7] rustourismnews.com - https://www.rustourismnews.com/2026/08/03/5-6-magnitude-earthquake-shakes-egypt-tremors-felt-across-middle-east
  8. [8] see.news - https://see.news/57-magnitude-earthquake-felt-across-egypt-neighboring-countries
  9. [9] dailynewsegypt.com - https://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2026/08/03/suez-earthquake-revives-focus-on-seismic-risk-across-egypt-middle-east
  10. [10] techtimes.com - https://www.techtimes.com/articles/322860/20260803/egypt-earthquake-jolts-suez-region-fault-beneath-suez-canal-was-reclassified-active-last-year.htm
  11. [11] streamlinefeed.co.ke - https://streamlinefeed.co.ke/news/magnitude-5-5-earthquake-strikes-near-egypts-suez
  12. [12] egypttoday.com - https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/1/148692/Egypt%E2%80%99s-early-morning-earthquake-What-happened-how-authorities-responded-and
  13. [13] egyptian-gazette.com - https://egyptian-gazette.com/egypt/egypts-health-system-on-alert-after-earthquake
  14. [14] gulfnews.com - https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/egypt-earthquake-mother-dies-after-shielding-children-during-tremor-1.500630553
  15. [15] independent.ng - https://independent.ng/egypt-records-earthquake-in-over-30-years-one-injured
  16. [16] thenationalnews.com - https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/mena/2026/08/03/egypt-hit-by-56-magnitude-earthquake