Morocco: Magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurs in Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Al Hoceima, Aug. 28

Event

A magnitude-5.3 earthquake occurred in the Mediterranean Sea, off the coast of Al Hoceima, Morocco at around 12:20 Aug. 28. The epicenter was about 44 km (27 miles) northeast of Al Hoceima. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and weak shaking may have been felt in locations in northern Morocco, southern Spain, Gibraltar, and far northwestern Algeria. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. Authorities have not issued any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions.