Seismic activity in Morocco has shifted toward smaller and less frequent earthquakes three years after the powerful Atlas earthquake that struck the country in September 2023, according to the National Geophysics Institute.
The earthquakes recorded over the past 12 months have generally been below magnitude 5, with available data showing no indications so far of an earthquake exceeding that magnitude, the institute told Hespress AR.
Abdel Nasser Jbour, director of the National Geophysics Institute, said the current pattern is consistent with an ongoing process of tectonic stress release in the Earth’s crust.
Most of the recent tremors have been too weak to be felt by residents, with people noticing them only in limited cases, particularly at night and during periods of quiet, when light ground movements may be more perceptible.
Jbour said seismic monitoring continues across the country, including of relatively deep activity underground.
“The seismic activity currently recorded is part of a tectonic release process that is still ongoing,” Jbour said, adding that available data do not point to an imminent destructive earthquake exceeding magnitude 5.
Overall seismic activity in Morocco has increased by between 10% and 15% since the 2023 Atlas earthquake, Jbour said. The increase has been particularly notable in the Al Haouz region, affecting about six or seven provinces to varying degrees.
Such an increase was expected following the powerful earthquake, he said.
The nature of the seismic activity has also changed over time. In the period immediately following the main earthquake, the region experienced aftershocks, while tremors are now more widely spaced, although some are still felt by residents from time to time.
Jbour said the continuation of these tremors is normal in the context of the seismic activity that followed the 2023 earthquake and that tectonic stress release could continue for years.
The magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco on Sept. 8, 2023, killing thousands of people and causing extensive damage, particularly in the High Atlas region.
Jbour said the earthquake had taken specialists by surprise because geological and tectonic data available before the event did not provide a clear indication that an earthquake of such magnitude could occur in the High Atlas.
Monitoring and measurement systems at the time also did not provide enough information to anticipate the event, he said. The earthquake itself, however, generated additional data that has helped scientists better understand seismic activity in the region.
Jbour said seismic activity has continued since Sept. 8, 2023, with observations over the past three years showing a relative increase in activity across Morocco as well as in neighboring offshore areas.
At the same time, most current tremors are weaker and more widely spaced than those recorded in the period immediately following the main earthquake.
Jbour said the 2023 disaster had also increased public awareness of earthquake risks, with Moroccans gaining a better understanding of seismic phenomena and the dangers they pose.
He called for stronger preventive measures, particularly in construction, including compliance with safety standards for buildings and infrastructure to reduce potential damage from future earthquakes.
Morocco has also made significant efforts to improve earthquake preparedness and prevention through legislation and the development of seismic and land-use maps, Jbour said.
Those assessments incorporate geophysical data for different areas and provide information on favorable and unfavorable characteristics, helping authorities determine appropriate land use and construction practices while taking soil conditions into account.
The approach is intended to identify potential risks before construction begins, allowing decisions on where and how to build to incorporate precautionary measures aimed at improving safety and reducing the potential impact of future seismic events.
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