What the record shows for Egypt
The strongest earthquake on record near Egypt is a magnitude 6.6 in 1969, centred 29 km NE of El Gouna, Egypt - 57 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 17 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 444 km of Egypt - about one every 2 years. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 444 km of Egypt between 1879 and 1969. The most significant was in 1969 near Gulf Of Suez, triggered by an M7.0 earthquake, which killed around 2 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Egypt experiences earthquakes linked to the Red Sea rift and the Gulf of Suez.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Egypt.
Earthquake risk in Egypt - FAQ
Is Egypt at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 1 quake every 2 years nearby of magnitude 4+ within 444 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.6 in 1969.
What was the biggest earthquake in Egypt?
The strongest earthquake on record near Egypt is M6.6, in 1969 (29 km NE of El Gouna, Egypt), from USGS.
Does Egypt get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1879 (most recently 1969) within 444 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 2 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Egypt?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.