A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off Egypt early on Monday, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake happened at 3 a.m. local time (0000 ​GMT) and hit an area about 22 miles (36 kilometers) northeast of the seaport city of Suez. 

The ​German Research Centre ‌for Geosciences (GFZ) measured the earthquake at magnitude 5.4 and ​recorded the depth of the quake at 6 miles (10 kilometers).

The Egyptian Red Crescent said it had activated ‌its emergency response plan in ‌the governorates where the earthquake was felt. 

No immediate reports of damage or injuries

There were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage. 

Humanitarian organizations urged residents to avoid buildings showing signs of structural damage.

Damaging earthquakes are uncommon in the northeast African country. The country's deadliest earthquake in modern history struck in October 1992, when a 5.8-magnitude quake shook the capital, Cairo, killing more than 500 people and displacing thousands.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar 

Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.