March 31, 1969 Earthquake: Beni-Souef, Al-Qahirah (Cairo), Egypt

March 31, 1969, magnitude 7-7.25, Red Sea, two killed 16 injured and heavy damage in United Arab Republic. (reference #45)

1969 March 31 Red Sea. Preceded and followed by many strong shocks, an earthquake with an epicentre offshore, in the Gulf of Suez, affected the area of the islands of Shadwan, Tawila and Gubal. At Shadwan the shock caused

numerous rockfalls and it was strong enough to throw people to the ground but because of the desolate nature of the region there was no damage to property. The Shaker lighthouse at the south end of the island suffered mortar cracks near its base and mercury in a container at the top of the tower spilled out. A zone of ground deformation, probably of non-tectonic origin, was noticed extending in a north-south direction for about 1 km showing a few centimetres of right-lateral displacement. About 10 km west of this zone, in the sea, a coral reef was raised permanently above sea-level. Dead fish and some agitation of the sea were noticed after the main shock.

At Hurghada the shock caused some damage, including

cracks in the brick walls of a reinforced concrete

power plant, and plaster cracks in two hotels. Similar

effects were reported from Gemsa, At Tor a few dilapidated

adobe houses were damaged, and at the monastery

of St Catherine's plaster in a building cracked and

partly fel! from a ceiling. At Sharm al-Shaikh the earthquake produced cracks along mortar joints in walls,

articles fell from shelves and furniture was displaced.

People ran outdoors and had difficulty standing. Light

wooden houses remained intact, and overall damage to

property was negligible. Rockfalls and talus slides triggered by the shock raised clouds of dust. There is no

evidence that the shock had any adverse effect on the

Balaim and other oilfields on the western and eastern

sides of the Gulf of Suez. Outside the epicentral region damage was sporadic, the shock affecting primarily a few vulnerable structures, and otherwise negligible. In all two people were killed, 15 injured, about 100 houses and 7 mosques were ruined. Aftershocks continued well into 1970. (reference #3845)