Lawmaker questions absence of government earthquake alert system

CAIRO – 3 August 2026: Following the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck Egypt’s Suez area early Thursday, lawmaker Freddy El-Bayady, a member of the House of Representatives and Vice President of the Egyptian Social Democratic Party, submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Prime Minister and the Ministers of Communications and Information Technology and Higher Education and Scientific Research regarding the absence of a government-operated earthquake alert system.

In his inquiry, El-Bayady questioned the readiness of the national earthquake monitoring network and called for the establishment of a nationwide early warning system that could deliver immediate alerts through mobile networks.

He stated that available official information confirms that no casualties or property damage were reported following the recent earthquake, despite its strength and the fact that tremors were felt across several governorates. However, he stressed that the incident highlighted the need to reassess current methods for warning citizens about earthquakes and other disasters.

El-Bayady noted that some Android phone users received automatic earthquake alerts through a system developed by Google, which uses smartphone motion sensors to detect initial seismic waves and issue warnings to areas that have not yet been reached by the strongest waves.

"We are not talking about predicting earthquakes before they occur, but rather about providing early warnings that could give citizens a few seconds," he said. "Those seconds can be crucial, allowing people to move away from windows and glass, seek shelter in safe locations, and enable the shutdown of trains, elevators, gas supplies, and hazardous operations at vital facilities."

He emphasized that implementing an effective early warning system would enhance public safety and strengthen Egypt’s preparedness for natural disasters.

One person was injured following the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that struck the Suez area and was felt across nearby governorates, including Cairo, the Egyptian Ministry of Health announced in a statement.

Health monitoring has recorded only one injury nationwide. The individual received the necessary medical treatment and was discharged after their condition improved, according to the Central Operations Room at the Ministry of Health and Population headquarters in the New Administrative Capital. The statement did not disclose the identity of the injured person or their place of residence.

The ministry said its Central Operations Room is working around the clock to monitor the impact of the earthquake across the country. It urged citizens to remain calm and follow official safety guidelines.