An earthquake struck eastern Egypt in the early hours of Monday, waking residents across Cairo and shaking cities as far away as El-Arish, near the border with the Gaza Strip. Egypt's health minister, Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, ordered emergency response plans activated nationwide and directed ambulance services to reach "maximum levels of preparedness," according to a statement from the ministry. The Egyptian Red Crescent said it had activated its own emergency response plan in the governorates where shaking was reported. While Monday's quake caused no reported casualties, the response underscores how seriously Egyptian authorities treat even moderate tremors, given the country's history with destructive earthquakes. Egyptian authorities said assessments of affected areas were ongoing Monday, with officials expected to issue further updates as inspections continue.