A strong earthquake hit Morocco on September 8, causing great material and life damage. Morocco, however, is not a region prone to earthquakes. If this is true, why did this strong earthquake hit the region? Here’s everything you need to know about the situation.
Earthquake in Morocco: Why did it happen? Here’s everything you need to know about the situation
A strong earthquake hit Morocco on September 8, killing hundreds of people. The earthquake was so strong that it resulted in huge loss of life and property. The tremors were also strongly felt in the city of Marrakesh.
According to Morocco’s Ministry of the Interior, around 632 people died in the earthquake, specifically in Marrakech, along with five other provinces near the epicenter. In addition, about 329 people were seriously injured in the earthquake. These are just the reported numbers and they may rise as the search for the missing continues.
As Morocco deals with the difficult situation, world leaders are expressing their condolences. The aftershocks are still there, so world leaders are offering their help. For example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences and offered “all possible help” to Morocco in a tweet.
Extremely hurt by the loss of life in the earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who lost their loved ones. May the injured recover as soon as possible. India is ready to offer all possible help…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)
September 9, 2023
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Earthquake
The earthquake in Morocco led to enormous material damage and human lives. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake that struck Morocco had a magnitude of 6.8. It hit at 11.11 pm local time, i.e. 3.41 am IST. Just 19 minutes after the powerful earthquake, an aftershock struck the region again with a magnitude of 4.9. The city of Ighil was the epicenter of the earthquake. This region is approximately 70 km southwest of the historic city of Marrakesh. According to the US Geological Survey, the epicenter was approximately 18.5 km below the Earth’s surface. However, the Seismic Agency of Morocco claims that the depth was 11 km. Even if the information from the Moroccan seismic agency is correct, it was still a shallow earthquake. According to experts, such earthquakes are relatively more dangerous. The reasoning behind this claim is that such earthquakes have more energy than when they hit the surface. READ ALSO: Earthquake: Causes, Effects and Magnitude Measurement
Was the country prepared?
North Africa is not a region that experiences earthquakes too often, according to the USGS. Head of Seismic Monitoring and Warning Department, National Institute of Geophysics, Lahcen Mhanni, said this earthquake was the strongest ever in the mountainous region. This clearly implies the fact that since Morocco is not an earthquake-prone country and did not expect earthquakes, it was not prepared for the damage. It was in 1960 that a major earthquake forced the country to make amendments to its building codes so that buildings could withstand such calamities. However, most Moroccan buildings, especially those in rural areas, are not designed to withstand strong tremors like this.
Why such an earthquake hit Morocco?
Morocco is a country with low seismic rates, making such strong earthquakes a rare possibility in the region. However, according to the USGS, “large destructive earthquakes have been recorded and reported from Morocco in the western Mediterranean”. Earthquakes like these occur due to the northward convergence of the African Plate relative to the Eurasian Plate along the plate boundary. According to the USGC, the Morocco earthquake was the result of an “oblique reverse fault at shallow depth within Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range.” ALSO READ: Tropical Storm Lee could become an “extremely dangerous” hurricane this weekend. Here’s everything you need to know! ALSO READ: Melting Antarctic sea ice kills thousands of emperor penguins. Here’s everything you need to know!
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education