A Egyptian geophysics professor has confirmed that the region and the world are facing multiple earthquakes, particularly after the total solar eclipse that occurred a few weeks ago. Dr. Adly Al-Nakhili, a professor of geophysics at the Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, stated that "the solar eclipse may lead to earthquakes, as the Earth rotates on its axis and orbits the sun over the course of a month, which explains the movement of the moon and the appearance of the crescents, intended to help us understand the number of years and calculation." He added that during the eclipse, the sun attracts the Earth towards it while the moon also pulls the Earth, and this attraction to the Earth from both sides can cause earthquakes.
He further explained that the Quranic verse in Surah Al-Nazi'at says, "And the earth after that He spread it out, He brought forth from it its water and its pasture." This verse explains the phenomenon, as the word "daha" implies that it forcefully brought forth what was within. He noted that the Earth we live on is about 25 kilometers thick, with an additional 5 kilometers beneath the oceans and seas, and if the Earth’s crust breaks apart due to its movement, which is attracted right toward the sun and left toward the moon after the eclipse, earthquakes occur, forcefully bringing forth what is inside the Earth.
He continued that "if the Earth’s crust moves apart, cracks and faults occur, resulting in volcanic eruptions, but he assured that there are no significant fears of strong earthquakes in Egypt. For instance, in a specific situation like draining the High Dam Lake, an earthquake with a magnitude of 3 to 4 on the Richter scale may happen, but this poses no danger. On the other hand, earthquakes measuring 6 to 7 on the Richter scale are the ones that cause severe damage and destroy buildings and structures."
The Egyptian Institute of Astronomy had previously revealed all the details about the recent total solar eclipse, which raised concerns among citizens regarding the risk of blindness. The institute stated in an official announcement that the eclipse occurred during the conjunction of the month of Shawwal and was visible in certain countries such as the USA, Canada, and Mexico. The institute mentioned that the total eclipse covered an area of 197 kilometers and lasted for 4 minutes and 28 seconds.
The institute explained that a total eclipse occurs when the moon, during its monthly orbit around the Earth, is in the new moon phase right before the birth of the new crescent, positioning itself between the sun and the Earth on a line of conjunction—the line that connects the moon to the Earth, or near it, or at one of its ascending or descending nodes. The institute revealed that in this case, the distance between the moon and the Earth changes between 405 kilometers and 363 kilometers, and as a result of this change, the apparent size of the moon increases, allowing it to completely cover the disc of the sun, leading to the eclipse.
