A magnitude 4.7 earthquake struck the Gulf of Aqaba on Wednesday, 11 November 2026, shaking southern Jordan and neighbouring Israel and briefly halting flights at Ramon Airport near Eilat. No injuries or damage had been reported on either side of the border by Wednesday evening.

Jordan's state news agency Petra reported that the tremor hit at 12:24 p.m. local time at a depth of 10 kilometres, citing the Jordan Seismological Observatory. Residents of Aqaba felt the shaking, although no injuries or damage were reported in Jordan.

Israeli measurements put the quake slightly lower. The Geological Survey of Israel recorded a magnitude of 4.5, placing the focus at a depth of eight kilometres near the Egyptian city of Taba, while the Jordanian observatory placed the epicentre offshore, about 38 kilometres south of the city of Aqaba.

Flights halted briefly at Ramon Airport

In Israel, the earthquake was felt in Eilat and in communities across the Arava region. Earthquake alerts were triggered in Eilat and nearby areas, and Israel's Home Front Command advised residents to leave buildings and move to open spaces.

Operations at Ramon Airport near Eilat were temporarily suspended as a precaution, with passengers and staff evacuated while safety inspections were carried out. Flights resumed once the checks were completed, and Israeli authorities confirmed that no injuries or damage had been reported. Residents were allowed to return to their buildings after the inspections.

The tremor was the latest reminder that the Gulf of Aqaba sits on an active seismic zone. The gulf lies along the Dead Sea Transform fault system, which runs through several Middle Eastern countries and produces earthquakes of varying size. The strongest earthquake on record in the area struck in November 1995, with a magnitude of 7.3.

Why the magnitude figures differ

It is normal for different seismological agencies to report slightly different magnitudes for the same earthquake, because they use different monitoring stations, instruments and calculation methods. Jordan's observatory gave 4.7, while Israel's Geological Survey gave 4.5, and some monitoring services listed 4.5. The time, location and depth reported by both sides point to the same event: a moderate tremor in the Gulf of Aqaba at 12:24 p.m. local time.

Moderate earthquakes of this size are felt widely but rarely cause serious damage, particularly when their epicentre is offshore. Wednesday's quake caused alarm in Eilat and Aqaba, two resort cities on opposite shores of the gulf, but the absence of reported damage suggests it passed without serious consequence.

Frequently asked questions

Was anyone hurt in the earthquake? No. Authorities in Jordan and Israel both said no injuries or damage had been reported after the tremor.

Did the earthquake disrupt travel? Flights at Ramon Airport near Eilat were briefly suspended and the terminal was evacuated as a precaution. Operations resumed after safety inspections were completed.

Sources: Petra News Agency and Qazinform.