Did You Feel It? Earthquake in Egypt Shakes Parts of Israel: "Everything Was Shaking"

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake was felt overnight, between Sunday and Monday, in several parts of Israel after its epicenter was located in Egypt, near the city of Suez. The quake, which struck at around 3:00 a.m., was felt in the south, the Dead Sea region, and central Israel, among other areas, with many residents reporting that it woke them up. Some device owners received alerts through Google's alert system.

According to data from the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), the earthquake's epicenter was about 38 kilometers from Suez, at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers. Initial assessments indicate that the quake was felt not only in Israel, but also in other countries in the region, including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Cyprus.

Reports came in from residents across several areas of Israel. Users told the ynet website that they felt the quake in central Israel as well, including in Be'er Ya'akov, Rehovot, and Ganei Tikva. Evyatar from Yeruham described the experience: "A mild earthquake was felt. The bed moved slightly." Anat from Petah Tikva said: "Everything was shaking and swaying."

Despite the many reports, no official announcement was issued by Home Front Command. The alerts received on phones were sent to devices operating through Google's system, rather than to all users. At this stage, no injuries or damage have been reported as a result of the earthquake, though residents in the south and the Dead Sea region said they felt the tremors clearly.

Home Front Command continues to emphasize safety guidelines in the event of an earthquake. The main instruction is to quickly move to an open area, if this can be done within a few seconds. If it is not possible to leave the building, people should enter an interior protected space, such as a safe room, or stand near an interior wall, staying away from windows, cabinets, and objects that could fall.

Those outside are also asked to keep away from buildings, trees, utility poles, and bridges. If driving, the instruction is to pull over in a safe place and remain inside the vehicle until the shaking stops.