Probabilistic assessment of earthquake hazard in Sinai in relation to the seismicity in the eastern Mediterranean region

Sinai is surrounded by the most active seismic trends in Egypt and earthquake risk reduction has become an important ongoing socio-economic concern. Twenty-five earthquake source zones were used to define the seismicity of the eastern Mediterranean region. Peak ground acceleration (PGA) values with a 90% probability of not being exceeded in 50 and 100 years were determined for the Sinai and Dead Sea regions. These indicated the highest relative levels of ground motion are expected in regions neighbouring the Gulf of Aqaba, the Dead Sea and the southern part of the Gulf of Suez. Other regions were characterized as having a relatively low to intermediate level of PGA values. The PGA values obtained will be useful for civil engineers, regulators and planners, in order to mitigate the effects of earthquakes and to plan earthquake resistant designs.