On September 8, 2023, a Mw 6.8 or 6.9 earthquake struck the Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco. The epicenter was located 71.8 km (44.6 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, near the town of Ighil in the Atlas Mountains. The quake resulted from shallow oblique thrust faults beneath the mountain range. Reports indicate that at least 2,946 deaths occurred, primarily outside Marrakesh, with this number increasing daily. Buildings and historical sites in Marrakesh sustained damage, and tremors were felt as far away as Spain, Portugal, and Algeria.
This earthquake is recorded as the largest in Morocco’s modern history. The Global Centroid Moment Tensor (GCMT) reported a magnitude of Mw 7.0.
THE MOST SEVERE EARTHQUAKE IN 120 YEARS
Over 3,000 people lost their lives due to the earthquake, and more than 6,000 were injured. The disaster is characterized as the most powerful event in the last 120 years and the deadliest earthquake since 1960. It is estimated that approximately 400,000 people were affected by the earthquake.