5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Morocco’s Ouezzane Province with No Reported Damage
A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Ouezzane Province, Morocco, but no damages have been reported. Tremors reached cities up to 200 km away, prompting some residents to evacuate. The event recalls the devastating 2023 earthquake in the Al Haouz region that caused significant fatalities. Morocco’s government is intensifying disaster management funding to fortify against future risks.
On Monday evening, the National Institute of Geophysics confirmed that a 5.2-magnitude earthquake impacted Ouezzane Province in northern Morocco. Fortunately, no damages have been reported, as stated by the Moroccan news agency MAP. The earthquake occurred at 11:48 p.m. at a depth of 20 kilometers, near Ksar el-Kebir, within the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region.
The quake was located at coordinates 34.954 degrees north latitude and 5.635 degrees west longitude. Reports indicate that tremors were felt as far as 200 kilometers south of the epicenter, reaching cities such as Fez, Casablanca, and Rabat, along with northern cities like Tangier and Tetouan. Many residents evacuated their homes due to trepidation, recalling the catastrophic earthquake of 2023 that claimed around 3,000 lives.
That seismic event occurred in the Al Haouz region on September 8, 2023, causing extensive damage, particularly to small village infrastructures and homes. In light of such tragedies, Morocco has enhanced its disaster management strategies. In 2023, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit announced that 325 projects, totaling MAD 4.72 billion ($471 million), were financed under the “Incentives for the Development of Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention Activities” program.
Minister Laftit remarked that the government established this program to manage natural disaster risks effectively. Notably, funding from the Fund to Combat the Effects of Natural Disasters contributed significantly, covering one-third of the overall project budget.
The recent 5.2-magnitude earthquake in Ouezzane Province resulted in no reported damages, emphasizing the readiness of Morocco’s disaster response. This incident served as a reminder of the severe earthquake in 2023 that had catastrophic consequences. The Moroccan government is proactively addressing natural disaster risks through substantial funding for disaster management projects aimed at prevention and infrastructure resilience.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
