5.2-magnitude earthquake felt in Israel, Egypt

Epicenter of tremor in southern Sinai; no immediate reports of injuries or damage

By ToI Staff 27 June 2015, 6:56 pm

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Israelis participate in a earthquake drill at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem on June 20, 2013. (Flash90)

A mild earthquake was felt in several areas across Israel and Egypt late Saturday afternoon.

According to the American Geological Survey, the quake measured 5.2 on the Richter scale and its epicenter was 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) southeast of the beach-side town of Nuweiba in the Sinai.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, police said.

The tremor was felt in the Gush Dan area in central Israel, Jerusalem, the Negev area and Eilat. In Egypt, the quake shook buildings more than 200 miles away from the epicenter in the capital, Cairo.

In the Red Sea town of Dahab, 68 kilometers (42 miles) south of the epicenter , the tremor shook loose clouds of dust that enveloped nearby mountains, according to a witness. The quake appeared to startle local residents and tourists. It also shook the nearby Gaza strip.

Israel is situated along the Syrian-African rift, a tear in the earth’s crust running the length of the border separating Israel and Jordan, and is part of the Great Rift Valley, which extends from northern Syria to Mozambique.

The last major earthquake to hit the region was in 1927 — a 6.2-magnitude tremor that killed 500 and injured another 700.

— AP contributed to this report.