5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Morocco, Causes Panic but No Damage Reported
Morocco experienced a 5.2-magnitude earthquake in Ouezzane province late Monday, causing no reported injuries or damage but instilling panic due to previous earthquake tragedies. The quake struck during the night and was felt in major cities, prompting immediate reactions from the public. Morocco is also strengthening its disaster management strategy after the deadly 2023 earthquake that resulted in nearly 3,000 fatalities and extensive destruction.
A significant earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale struck Morocco’s Ouezzane province late Monday night, though no damages or casualties have been reported. This tremor occurred approximately a year and a half after a devastating earthquake that resulted in thousands of fatalities, according to reports from the Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The earthquake, which took place at 11:48 PM, was recorded by Morocco’s National Institute of Geophysics. The epicenter was located near Ksar el-Kebir in the greater Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, situated at a depth of 20 kilometers. The coordinates were noted as 34.954 degrees north latitude and 5.635 degrees west longitude, as reported by Morocco World News.
Tremors were felt widely, extending up to 200 kilometers (approximately 125 miles) south of the epicenter. Major cities, including Rabat, Fez, and Casablanca, as well as northern coastal cities like Tangier and Tetouan, experienced the quake. Witnesses shared videos online depicting individuals fleeing their homes in fear, a reaction likely heightened by the memory of the catastrophic earthquake in 2023.
On September 8, 2023, a more powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake devastated the High Atlas region, leading to nearly 3,000 fatalities and significant damage to approximately 60,000 homes. In the aftermath of this disaster, Morocco committed to enhancing its disaster management policies to prevent future tragedies of similar scale.
Morocco’s Interior Minister, Abdelouafi Laftit, announced that the country is funding around 325 projects under the “Incentives for the Development of Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention Activities” program, with a total investment of MAD 4.72 billion (approximately $471 million), as reported by Morocco World News. This initiative has received support from the Fund to Combat the Effects of Natural Disasters, which contributes nearly one-third of the total funding.
In conclusion, the recent 5.2-magnitude earthquake in Morocco prompted alarm but resulted in no reported injuries or damage, reflecting ongoing concerns following the devastating 2023 earthquake. The Moroccan government is actively implementing measures to bolster disaster risk reduction and prevention, significantly investing in projects aimed at minimizing the impact of natural disasters in the future.
Original Source: www.livemint.com
