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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded over an aircraft infiltration in the Bir Ora area, and details are being examined
Drone infiltration sirens sound north of the Gulf of Aqaba
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out five extremely violent raids on the western areas of Gaza City
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The Israeli occupation carried out major bombings in the Gaza Strip, the most violent since October 7
Yemeni Armed Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree: The missile force carried out a major operation using the Palestine 2 ballistic hypersonic missile, hitting several targets in occupied Yafa.

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

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Australia warned of deadly climate risks in landmark report
Environment

Millions at risk from rising seas, extreme heat in Australia: Report

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un inspects a new weapons factory in undisclosed location, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, August 31, 2025 (AP)
Politics

DPRK defies US, says nuclear state status 'permanently enshrined'

Soldier F faces trial over bloody Sunday killings after 53 years
Miscellaneous

British Soldier F faces trial over Bloody Sunday killings after 53 yrs

Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate at the University of Sydney to protest the Israel Hamas war, Wednesday, April 24, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Protest outside ABC decries media silence on Gaza journalist killings

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