What Caused Morocco’s Strongest Earthquakes?

People have become devastated and homeless! It is one of Morocco’s strongest earthquakes ever after decades. Keep reading to know how things are going so far in Marrakesh, Morroco.

What Do We Know So Far About Morocco Earthquake?

The earthquake magnitude scale was 6.8 and considered the strongest and most powerful ever quake experienced. It hit the epicenter in the Atlas Mountains. It was 71 kilometers (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh.

According to the UN, 300,000 people in Morocco were affected. Moreover, many of them spent the night outside due to aftershock fears. Worldwide, charity organizations are now gathering money to assist those in need.

What Caused The Earthquake?

Several layers rub against one another to form the Earth’s surface. There are the tectonic plates and sizable chunks of the planet’s outer layer. Many geological processes, like volcanoes forming and the development of mountains, are the reason. Due to these movements, powerful earthquakes occur.

The Eurasian and Nubian plates’ confluence is Morocco’s primary source of tectonic activity. Eurasian Plate pushed against the Nubian Plate. Later the High Atlas mountains south of Marrakesh, Algeria, and Tunisia came into being. The latest Earthquake’s epicenter was in the highlands.

The Atlas Mountains are now shrinking as a result of plate collisions. This explains why the region has an active impact. We are aware of this because of the GPS data. It indicates that they are becoming a millimeter closer to one another every year.

The High Atlas Mountains have unique geological characteristics and many scholars are proud of them. Whereas, the lithosphere and the Earth’s most complex and outermost layer, is thinner and the mantle rises. All characteristics may have contributed to the occurrence of Morocco’s strongest earthquakes.

When Did It Happen?

The devastating and deadly earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night, 8th September. It caused extensive damage in the well-known tourist destination southwest of Marrakesh and the nearby towns. Thousands of people were killed and injured. People are still searching for their loved ones.

How Many People Died and Injured So Far in Marrakesh?

Morocco’s powerful earthquakes death toll has reached 2,900, making it the strongest and deadliest quake in 60 years. More than 5,500 people have reported injuries or more than twice as many as before. Many Morocco quake survivors have been complaining. They say that the Moroccan government has provided a lack of help.

What Is the Rescue Team Doing?

The Morocco earthquake survivors are demanding help! Many people are still under the rubble and looking are rescuers.

The Moroccan government has only been accepting a small amount of International aid and everyone us criticizing them. Even the rescuers are having difficulty getting to rural areas. Despite several offers from countries across the world. Only search and rescue teams from a few countries have gotten permission like the United Kingdom (UK), Qatar, Spain, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Qatar has deployed rescue trucks, and search and rescue personnel. Moreover, humanitarian help to the earthquake-affected region reached

According to the Spanish Defence Ministry. A Spanish military search and rescue team of 56 rescuers and four sniffer dogs was sent. A second plane was also sent, carrying 30 rescuers and four search dogs.

Why Buildings Couldn’t Withstand the Force of Deadly Earthquakes?

Villages had rural homes primarily made of mud, brick and stone. Located close to the epicenter in the mountains appears to have been destroyed. These buildings are incredibly fragile and offer little to no earthquake resilience.

Various damage was perceived in more populated regions such as the city of Marrakech. Ranging from minor local failures to complete structure collapses. A large part of this may be attributed to buildings composed of stone and masonry. These buildings are notorious for their fragility and weak resistance. Like the Historic mosques damaged in the quake. They could not control the mighty horizontal shaking brought on by a big earthquake.

What Is Morocco’s History of Earthquakes?

Over the past thousand years, Morocco’s people has experienced the strongest and most deadly earthquakes, mostly in two locations but this time it was so brutal. An offshore fault runs along the Alboran Sea and the Azores-Gibraltar transform spot. An onshore fault runs along the Atlas mountain range in northwest Algeria. Also, the Rif mountains in northern Morocco. Although less frequent throughout the Atlas Belt, earthquakes still occur sometimes.

The three recent earthquakes that had the most significant impact. These occurred in the years 1994, 2004 and 2016. Their magnitudes ranged from 6.0 to 6.3. These happened in Morocco’s seismically active heartland as well as the western Mediterranean.

What Should We Do to Lessen The Impact of Future Strongest Earthquakes in Morocco?

Reliable seismic hazard analyses are the finest tool we have. These reduce the effects of earthquakes. Following that, the outcomes must be incorporated into national construction codes as well. Engineers are able to integrate earthquake safety into building designs in this way.

Building regulations must consider many elements, such as the properties of the soil and the propagation of seismic waves. The ability of the Earth to amplify seismic wave motion should also be in view. Additionally, the anticipated ground trembling affects how structures behave and harm them. These elements differ from city to city and from district to district.

Final Thoughts

According to seismologists, structures kill people, not earthquakes. Unregulated buildings without structural support threaten places with a high quake risk. Therefore, it is necessary to have building codes. These codes should also be regularly updated. Morocco’s people have already suffered enough from the wreck of this strongest earthquake.

Last but not least, building regulations should get revised often as new information about earthquake geology. Also, the effects of earthquakes on structures should become available. The best approach to guard against these catastrophic occurrences is to do this. This is something that territorial planners and rulers must be aware of and consider.