Earthquake in Morocco: the Maghreb, a region at risk

The earthquake which caused the death of more than 2,000 people in Morocco as well as thousands of injuries is the most powerful ever measured in the country. With an intensity of around 6.8 on the Richter scale, it even borders on the category of so-called “major” earthquakes, to which last February’s earthquakes in Turkey and Syria belong, which had caused nearly 56 000 deaths in total.

Although it is unprecedented in its power, this type of phenomenon is far from rare in this Maghreb country, which is located between the African plate and the Eurasian plate. These move towards each other at a rate of approximately 1 to 2 cm per year, and their convergence causes compression of the basement rocks, sometimes leading to earthquakes.

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on the night of Friday September 8 to Saturday September 9.

© / AFP

Tremors are relatively common in Morocco, although their intensity can vary considerably depending on the location and depth of the epicenter. The deadliest earthquake in the country’s history took place in 1960, in the Rif region. It left more than 15,000 dead and 20,000 injured.

The last one dates back to January 2023, and hit the north of the Kingdom. Evaluated at 4.7 on the Richter scale, it caused no injuries or significant damage. Its Algerian neighbor is also plagued by numerous earthquakes. In 1980, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake was even recorded in the town of Chlef, around 400 km from the border between the two countries, causing the death of several thousand people.