ABSTRACT
On October 12, 1992, Egypt was struck by an earthquake which registered 5.9 on the Richter scale. It hit Cairo and the provinces of Gizeh, Beni Suef and Fugum severely, causing enormous damage. Its effects were felt as far north as Alexandria and as far south as Kom Ombo. According to the official reports, the death toll was 562, the injured 9929, the number of buildings which were totally destroyed 5000 and those which were partially affected 11,500. Many Coptic and Islamic monuments as well as public buildings were seriously damaged; close to 2748 schools were closed, of which 500 were in total ruins. The Geological Survey of Egypt reports ground fissures in the Dahshur area and water gushing as sandy jets to the north of Ayyat as a result of the compaction of water-bearing scands in that area (figure 2). The fault along which these features appeared can be seen on the Geological Map of Egypt prepared by Conoco Oil Co. and the Egyptian Petroleum Corporation and edited by Klitzsch, List & Pöhlmann.
