Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Death toll from latest Israeli strikes on Gaza rises to 30
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Five killed in the Israeli bombing of a civilian vehicle on Al-Qassam Street in Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip
Hamas confirms that it has no connection to the shooting incident in Rafah and affirms its commitment to the ceasefire agreement
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Two civilians were killed and four others, including a child and an infant, were injured in an Israeli bombing of a house belonging to the Al-Banna family in the al-Sabra neighborhood, south of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: An Israeli airstrike targets the vicinity of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, west of Gaza City
Al-Qassam: We will postpone the handover of the body of the Israeli captive we found, which was scheduled for today, due to the occupation's violations
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Israeli occupation aircraft launch airstrikes on the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip
Netanyahu's office: At the end of the security consultations, the prime minister instructed the military to launch massive military strikes on the Gaza Strip immediately
President Aoun: We urge the activation of the monitoring committee, the cessation of hostilities, ongoing Israeli violations, attacks
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to US Envoy Morgan Ortagus: Southerners must be enabled to return to their homes and rebuild

A chronicle of earthquakes in Morocco: From year 818 to 2023

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: La Vie éco
  • 9 Sep 2023 18:16
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

Learn more about Morocco's seismic history, from the Middle Ages to the devastating 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake and today's.

  • x
  • The earthquake that hit Morocco adds on to a list of devastating earthquakes that devastated the country.
    Rescuers use a small excavator to search for survivors under the rubble of a collapsed house in Moulay Brahim, al-Haouz province, on September 9, 2023, (AFP)

Morocco has historically been a hotspot for earthquakes, with some resulting in thousands of casualties, as well as significant material losses. Some earthquakes that hit the North African country did go unnoticed, however, the most recent one which hit Morocco overnight has resulted in hundreds of victims so far.

Morocco is located in a seismically active region at one of the largest intracontinental belts in the world, as it is situated on part of the African Plate and the Atlas Mountain Range.

Here are some of the most infamous earthquakes that struck Morocco over the centuries:

Historic events

According to the Moroccan French-language newspaper La Vie éco, an earthquake shook the coasts of the Strait of Gibraltar on May 28, 818, before two violent earthquakes struck Morocco on December 1 and 30, 1079, resulting in the deaths of hundreds under the rubble and causing significant destruction.

Around six hundred years later, a massive earthquake laid waste to various cities in the northern regions of the country on May 11, 1624. On August 5, 1660, Melilla experienced a powerful earthquake, resulting in large casualties and significant material losses.

In 1719, a seismic event along the Moroccan coast also led to widespread destruction in several coastal cities. Agadir was also struck by a violent earthquake in 1731.

Related News

French papers accused of 'unethical coverage' of Morocco earthquake

Search operations in Morocco stalled by mud, brick, stone-built houses

At the end of the 18th century, Melilla had to deal with another serious earthquake, suffering heavy material damages and fatalities.

Read more: Morocco's deadliest earthquake in decades claims more than 1,000 lives

20th century onward

In January 1909, earthquakes destroyed several neighborhoods in the suburbs of Tetouan, resulting in over 100 deaths and injuries.

The most devastating recorded earthquake was the one that struck the city of Agadir on February 29, 1960.

The earthquake hit the southern coastal city of Agadir claiming the lives of approximately one-third of the city's population, displacing tens of thousands and causing substantial material damage. The disaster remains to this day one of the world's most destructive earthquakes recorded in human history.

The earthquake reduced the city to rubble, resulting in approximately 15,000 victims and nearly 25,000 injuries, displacing 35,000 people.

Nine years following the catastrophic Agadir earthquake, Morocco found itself confronting yet another powerful seismic event. This time, the earthquake's epicenter was located in Lisbon, Portugal, which somewhat mitigated its impact on Moroccan soil. Nevertheless, it instilled widespread panic and exacted a toll of ten lives, while leaving 200 individuals injured.

More recently, in 2004, the northwestern region of Al Hoceima experienced a devastating earthquake at around 2:27 am on February 24. This seismic event registered a magnitude of 5.2 on the Richter scale. Tragically, it led to the loss of 862 lives, left 629 people injured, and forced a staggering 51,000 individuals to flee their homes.

Meanwhile, today's earthquake that rocked the outskirts of Marrakech overnight resulted in the death of 1037 people and the injury of more than 1204, including 721 in critical condition.

Read more: Broad Arab, international solidarity with Morocco after earthquake

  • Morocco earthquake
  • Morocco
  • Marrakesh

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Abu Hamza, the spokesperson for the Al-Quds Brigades, during a speech televised on October 22, 2025 (Al-Quds Brigades Military Media)

Al-Quds Brigades' Abu Hamza mourns leaders, vows continued resistance

  • Politics
  • 22 Oct 2025
US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

US missionary kidnapped in Niger capital, suspected taken toward Mali

  • Africa
  • 23 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, and Egyptian workers search for the bodies of hostages in a tunnel discovered during searches in Hamad City, Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025 (AP)
Politics

'Israel' obstructing Gaza body recovery, creating false claims: Hamas

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawwaf Salam talks to US Deputy Special Envoy to the Middle East Morgan Ortagus at the Grand Serail in Beirut, Lebanon, October 28, 2025 (NNA)
Politics

Salam conveys to Ortagus goals behind any possible negotiations

Writers boycott NYT, demand justice as Gaza media ban faces court
Politics

300+ writers boycott NYT Opinion, cite persistent anti-Palestine bias

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, Injure 3 Palestinians
Politics

Settlers attack West Bank olive harvesters, injure 3 Palestinians

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS