2023 Al Haouz earthquake

2023 Al Haouz earthquake
Clockwise from top: Imi N'Tala, Moulay Brahim, Tizi N'Test and Tansghart after the earthquake
2023 Al Haouz earthquake is located in Morocco
Agadir
Agadir
Casablanca
Casablanca
Marrakesh
Marrakesh
2023 Al Haouz earthquake
UTC time2023-09-08 22:11:01
ISC event626740945
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local date8 September 2023 (2023-09-08)
Local time23:11 DST
Magnitude6.9 Mw[1]
Depth19.0 km (11.8 mi)[1]
Epicenter31°04′23″N 8°24′25″W / 31.073°N 8.407°W / 31.073; -8.407
TypeOblique-thrust
Areas affectedMorocco
Total damageUS$7 billion
Max. intensityMMI IX (Violent)
Casualties2,960 killed, 5,674 injured

On 8 September 2023 at 23:11 DST (22:11 UTC), an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent) struck Morocco's Al Haouz Province. The earthquake's epicenter was 73.4 km (45.6 mi) southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil[2] and the Oukaïmeden ski resort in the Atlas Mountains.[3] It occurred as a result of shallow oblique-thrust faulting beneath the mountain range. At least 2,960 deaths were reported, with most occurring outside Marrakesh. Damage was widespread, and historic landmarks in Marrakesh were destroyed.[4] The earthquake was also felt in Spain, Portugal, and Algeria.[5][6][7]

It is the strongest instrumentally recorded earthquake in Morocco, the deadliest in the country since the 1960 Agadir earthquake, and the second-deadliest earthquake of 2023 after the Turkey–Syria earthquakes.[8] Its magnitude also makes it the largest earthquake on the African continent since the 2006 Mw  7.0 Mozambique earthquake and the largest in North Africa since the 1980 Mw  7.1 El Asnam earthquake.[9] Over 2.8 million people from Marrakesh and areas surrounding the Atlas Mountains were affected, including 100,000 children.[10][11][12][13] Following the earthquake, many countries offered humanitarian assistance, and Morocco announced a three-day period of national mourning.[14][15]

  1. ^ a b International Seismological Centre. Bulletin of the ISC. Thatcham, United Kingdom. [Event 626740945].
  2. ^ "Powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake rattles Morocco, with five believed dead". Al Jazeera. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 8 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= / |archive-url= timestamp mismatch; 9 September 2023 suggested (help)
  3. ^ "Major earthquake strikes Oukaïmedene, Morocco". United States Geological Survey. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  4. ^ "'Fragile state': Fears for Marrakesh's ancient structures after earthquake". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  5. ^ Pedrosa, Jorge (9 September 2023). "Terremoto Málaga: Cuatro seísmos con epicentro en Marruecos se sienten en Andalucía" [Malaga Earthquake: Four earthquakes with epicenter in Morocco are felt in Andalusia] (in Spanish). Málaga Hoy. Archived from the original on 9 September 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Where in Morocco did the 6.8 magnitude earthquake strike?". Al Jazeera. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Morocco earthquake leaves at least 2,000 dead, damages historic landmarks and topples buildings". CBS News. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Morocco earthquake: mourning begins as rescue continues with death toll over 2,000". The Guardian. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  9. ^ "Search Earthquake Catalog". United States Geological Survey. 20 October 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2023.
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference RU22Sep was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Kottasová, Ivana (10 September 2023). "Rescuers scramble to find survivors in Morocco after powerful earthquake kills more than 2,000". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  12. ^ Kouachi, Ikram (9 September 2023). "Thousands affected by powerful quake in Morocco's Marrakech: WHO". Anadolu Agency. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  13. ^ "UNICEF: Over 100,000 children affected by Morocco quake". NHK World Japan. 11 September 2023. Archived from the original on 12 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  14. ^ "Morocco declares three days of national mourning following deadly earthquake". Reuters. 9 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  15. ^ "Morocco Earthquake: Country declares 3 days of national mourning". WION. 10 September 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023. Over 1,000 people were killed and more than 1,200 were injured in a terrible earthquake that rattled the kingdom late on Friday night, prompting Morocco to declare three days of national mourning.