The Head of the National Institute of Astronomical and Geophysical Research, Hatem Ouda, assured Egypt would not be affected by the series of earthquakes that hit several parts of Asia and Europe, pointing that each region has its own “quake belt.” Ouda added that Egypt's “quake belt,” located in Red Sea, south Mediterranean, and Gulf of Aqaba, has not witnessed any earthquakes. “Italy carried out a study a few months ago to spot earthquakes in the Mediterranean, but nothing was confirmed,” he said. A series of earthquakes hit Pakistan, Turkey and other European and Asian countries. The last earthquake was in Indonesia's northern Sulawesi region at the volcano Okon Mountain. Gray smoke rose 400 meters and fell on agricultural regions surrounding the mountain. Indonesian authorities they are prepared for an eruption. The mountain is expected to erupt strongly because explosive power is still stored inside the volcano. Authorities called on the citizens to follow regulations and curfews in the area surrounding the mountain. They recorded 19 earthquakes last Monday morning and dozens of earthquakes in the afternoon. Earthquakes also hit some Turkish cities on the first day of Eid al-Adha.
