26th February, 2024
CHIRANJIT MITRA
● On September 8th, 2023, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck western Morocco, devastating rural communities. ● The death toll stands at over 2,900 people, with thousands more injured.
● The African tectonic plate, on which Morocco sits, is slowly moving northward, colliding with the Eurasian plate. ● This collision creates intense pressure, eventually released in the form of earthquakes. ● The September 8th quake occurred along a complex fault line in the High Atlas Mountains.
While a moderate-strength quake, several factors contributed to the severity of its impact: ● Shallow Depth: The quake's epicenter was relatively shallow, amplifying the shaking on the surface. ● Rural Location: Many homes in the affected areas were not built to withstand strong earthquakes.
● Rescue and recovery efforts continue in remote areas, fighting against blocked roads and limited resources. ● The quake destroyed the centuries-old Tinmel Mosque in the High Atlas Mountains, a UNESCO cultural heritage site. ● The earthquake is a stark reminder of the seismic risks in tectonically active zones.