1960 Agadir earthquake

1960 Agadir earthquake
Building damage in Agadir
1960 Agadir earthquake is located in Morocco
Agadir
Agadir
Casablanca
Casablanca
1960 Agadir earthquake
UTC time1960-02-29 23:40:18
ISC event878424
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date29 February 1960 (1960-02-29)
Local time23:40:18 WET (UTC±00:00)
Duration< 15 seconds[1]
Magnitude5.8 Mw[2]
Depth15 km[3]
Epicenter30°21′N 9°41′W / 30.35°N 9.69°W / 30.35; -9.69[3]
Areas affectedMorocco
Max. intensityMMI X (Extreme)[4]
Foreshocks23 February MMI III (Weak)[5]
29 February MMI VI (Strong)[5]
Aftershocks22 March MMI VI (Strong)
17 April MMI VI (Strong)[5]
Casualties~ 12,000–15,000 dead[4]
~ 12,000 injured[6]

The 1960 Agadir earthquake occurred on 29 February at 23:40:18 Western European Time near the city of Agadir, located in western Morocco on the shore of the Atlantic Ocean. Despite the earthquake's moderate Mw scale magnitude of 5.8, its relatively shallow depth (15.0 km[7]) resulted in strong surface shaking, with a maximum perceived intensity of X (Extreme) on the Mercalli intensity scale. Between 12,000 and 15,000 people (about a third of the city's population of the time) were killed and another 12,000 injured with at least 35,000 people left homeless, making it the most destructive and deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history. Particularly hard hit were Founty, the Kasbah, Yachech/Ihchach and the Talborjt area. The earthquake's shallow focus, close proximity to the port city of Agadir, and unsatisfactory construction methods were all reasons declared by earthquake engineers and seismologists as to why it was so destructive.

  1. ^ AISE 1962, p. 13.
  2. ^ ANSS: Morocco 1960 .
  3. ^ a b ISC-EHB Event 878424 [IRIS].
  4. ^ a b Utsu 2002.
  5. ^ a b c AISE 1962, pp. 27–29.
  6. ^ AISE 1962, p. 15.
  7. ^ ISC-EHB Event 1960 [IRIS].