On Sept. 8, at around 23:11, a magnitude-6.8 earthquake occurred in Chichaoua Province, in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. The epicenter was located 56 km (35 miles) west of Oukaimeden, between the two major cities of Marrakech and Agadir. Tremors were felt as far away as 250 km (155 miles) from the epicenter. As of Sept. 13, officials report at least 2,900 deaths and more than 5,500 injuries. Casualty figures will almost certainly rise in the coming days and weeks as rescue operations continue. Authorities have also reported considerable damage to roads and infrastructure near the epicenter. Historical and cultural sites have also been impacted, including the Tinmel Mosque in the High Atlas Mountains, as well as Marrakech's Old City and its ancient walls. Authorities have deployed the armed forces to the area to provide emergency services. First responders from neighboring countries have been sent to assist Moroccan forces on the ground.
Morocco is accustomed to earthquakes, especially on its coast and in the High Atlas Mountains, as the country is located on the border of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates. However, larger seismic activity tends to occur further east in the Mediterranean, with Greece and Turkey particularly impacted. Previous earthquakes of this magnitude have occurred before: in 1960, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake destroyed the city of Agadir, killing at least 12,000 people; in 2004, a 6.5 magnitude quake killed 630 people in the Rif Mountains near Al Hoceima, in northern Morocco; in 2019, a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Midelt, a region at the border with Algeria, though led to only material damage. In the past 20 years, earthquakes have had a limited impact on the Moroccan population, which explains its surprise and lack of preparation when dealing with seismic activity in densely populated areas. Just as in 1960, people have witnessed streets and buildings collapsing on themselves, adding to the destruction and utter desolation.
Socioeconomic Impact
While search and rescue efforts are still on the way, the Moroccan government’s reaction has come under scrutiny as reports indicated that King Mohammed VI was in France when the earthquake hit his country and was allegedly unable to coordinate emergency responses in the first few hours. While communications from the Palace have been limited, the King appeared to be focused on international relations and politics. Indeed, Morocco has decided officially to accept the public help of only four countries (Qatar, Spain, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom) among the 60 aid offers it received, mentioning efforts to better coordinate the distribution of help. Additional foreign governments have pledged considerable funds to aid organizations on site, including the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). The business community, international and local, has also been quick to answer and provide monetary funds for aid and recovery.
On top of being the deadliest earthquake Morocco has seen in 60 years, reports indicate that the natural disaster could lead to an eight-percent loss in GDP, or about USD 10.7 billion, according to the World Bank. As with any large-scale natural disaster, the earthquake will likely have a direct short-term negative impact on the Moroccan economy, affecting infrastructure as well as the Moroccan population's purchasing power. Indirect effects, as the economic damage spreads through trade networks and supply chains, will have spillover effects on business activity in the region in the short and medium term. The extent of the earthquake's economic impact will depend on Morocco's ability to reallocate resources towards reconstruction.
Security Concerns
Finally, the earthquakes that hit Morocco will likely result in renewed security threats. Securing areas affected by natural disasters can prove to be challenging, and crime and political instability tend to rise in their wake. The perceived lack of government action, as well as the likely economic impact of the quake, may also lead to increased unrest. The long-term negative economic impact will also likely lead to an increase in poverty, increasing migration across the Mediterranean Sea. The likely marginalization of youth as a result of economic pressures could also result in an increase in radicalized people joining extremist militant organizations, a threat that has abated significantly in recent years, though has never been eliminated entirely.
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