Powerful quake in Morocco
Recently, an earthquake of 6.8-6.9 magnitude occurred in the Marrakesh-Safi region of Morocco, which is the most destructive earthquake to hit the country in the last 120 years.
This is the second deadliest earthquake of 2023 after the Turkey-Syria earthquake. There is news of death of more than 2,000 people in this. The Moroccan government declared three days of national mourning following the earthquake.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the Atlas Mountains. The Atlas Mountains extend across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. The highest peak of this Atlas range is Toubkal Mountain located in Morocco.
Reason for earthquake in Morocco:
- According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), Morocco lies near the Azores-Gibraltar Transform Fault, located between the African Plate and the Eurasian Plate. Due to which earthquakes frequently occur in the northern region of Morocco.
- Similar strong earthquake tremors were felt in Al Hoceima in north-eastern Morocco in 2004.
- Additionally, the largest and most destructive earthquake in history occurred in Morocco’s neighboring country Algeria during 1980, with a magnitude of 7.3.
Morocco:
- Morocco is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. Its capital is Rabat, while its largest city is Casablanca.
- It has the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Atlantic Ocean in the west. Morocco is bordered by Algeria to the east and the region of Western Sahara to the south.
- The Strait of Gibraltar separates Spain from Morocco. And the Strait of Gibraltar connects the Mediterranean Sea in the east to the Atlantic Ocean in the west.
- Marrakesh is the fourth largest city in Morocco. Here in 1994, the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization was signed.
Causes of earthquake:
- Endogenous sudden vibrations or movements in the earth’s crust, which originate naturally below the earth’s surface (in the underground), are called earthquakes.
- Generally, earthquakes occur due to upheavals in the rocks due to compression and tension in the earth’s crust and its rocks due to tectonic activity, volcanic activity, isostatic adjustment.
- Through volcanic activity, hot magma, water and gases etc. from the underground push rapidly and exert pressure on the rocks due to which earthquakes occur.
Measurement of Earthquake Intensity:
- Seismic intensity is measured on the basis of two scales, Mercalli scale and Richter scale. The Richter scale is currently most used to measure seismic magnitude.
- Numbers from 1 to 9 are marked on this scale. In this, each front number represents 10 times the seismic magnitude of the number behind it.
Source – The Hindu
