Introduction
Earthquakes and aftershocks in Morocco and the ground is moving underfoot. Thousands of victims were injured due to the cracks that completely leveled the buildings of the cities to the ground. The largest earthquake to have occurred in Morocco and the surrounding countries in more than a century. In this article, we will learn about the Moroccan earthquake incident, and when and where the incident occurred. What happens to the Earth? What is the scientific explanation for that? What is the geological nature of the land in Morocco?
Where and When Did the Earthquake Occur in Morocco?
At midnight on Friday, a strong earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale occurred in Morocco in the High Atlas Mountains near Marrakesh. It caused enormous damage to the cities, villages, and countryside adjacent to the mountains, and claimed the lives of more than 3,000 people, as well as injuring more than 2,600 others, at the time of writing this information. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake that occurred in Morocco this year is the strongest of its kind and is considered uncommon because such earthquakes have not occurred since 1900, more than a decade ago. It is known that any earthquake with a magnitude of 5 on the Richter scale causes damage to the infrastructure of cities, let alone an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. This earthquake is the strongest earthquake this year after the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February of the current year.
Details of the Powerful Earthquake in Morocco
A US Geological Survey statement said that the magnitude of the earthquake reached 6.8 when it occurred at 22:11 GMT, with a tremor that lasted for several seconds. Then there was a 4.9 magnitude aftershock 19 minutes later. The US Geological Survey added that the epicenter of the earthquake was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, about 70 kilometers south of the city of Marrakesh. It was reported that the epicenter of the earthquake was at a depth of 18 kilometers below the surface of the earth, while the Moroccan Seismological Agency determined its epicenter at a depth of 8 kilometers.
Geological Nature of the Atlas Mountain Range
The Atlas Mountains are a mountain range extending across the northwest of the African continent, about 2,500 km across the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Tunisia, and Algeria). The Atlas Mountains are bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and the Sahara Desert to the south. These mountains are called folded mountains because they were formed as a result of the collision of the African tectonic plate in the south and the Eurasian one in the north, and because it is located on the border between these two tectonic plates, it is an area prone to earthquakes due to the movement of tectonic plates.
How is the Atlas Mountains Region Vulnerable to Earthquakes due to the Movement of Tectonic Plates?
We know that the Earth is composed of a certain number of huge tectonic plates and many smaller continental plates, and all of these plates are above the Earth's molten core. Tectonic plates undergo natural changes and move slightly every year from their origin to the present day. Their movement is either moving away from each other or pushing each other, The more gradually this movement increases, The plates break and parts of them separate, and when these cracks reach the surface of the earth, a sudden movement of the earth occurs directly above it, and thus earthquakes occur.
Morocco's History of Earthquakes
The earthquake that occurred in Morocco this year was not the first of its kind, but several violent earthquakes occurred years before it. Among them is the Al-Hoceima earthquake that occurred in February 2004, which caused massive damage and claimed the lives of more than 600 people and injured 900 people. Likewise, the famous earthquake in the city of Agadir, which occurred in 1960, also occurred in February.
Can Earthquakes be Predicted?
In fact, we cannot expect the earthquake to occur, as it is a sudden guest and we do not know when it will come! However, seismologists make estimated calculations and give the probability of an earthquake occurring, as a result of which countries and civil defense organizations take caution. The article Earthquakes | Tremors of Nature's Power, which we previously published on our website atoquarks, explains the physical interpretation of earthquakes, as well as their causes, and how to be careful of these disasters.
How do we Take Caution When Earthquakes Happen?
As we know, it is not possible to predict the occurrence of earthquakes because it is a very complex matter, so we must be prepared for such disasters, especially in areas prone to earthquakes. It is necessary to have an emergency bag at home that contains the appropriate and necessary tools for this.
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