Overview of the Recent Earthquake in Morocco
On April 8, 2026, at precisely 00:36:43 UTC, a minor earthquake was recorded near Rabat, the capital of Morocco. This seismic event occurred at a depth of approximately 10 kilometers and is estimated to have reached a magnitude of around 3. While the earthquake was not severe, it was significant enough to be felt by residents in the vicinity, particularly in the nearby towns of Sale and Rabat where reports of weak shaking were noted.
Details and Impact of the Earthquake
The earthquake's epicenter was located at coordinates 33.9946°N latitude and 6.7339°W longitude, just 9.4 kilometers west of Rabat. As the tremors were felt in the area, the shaking intensity was classified as III, indicating weak shaking that may not have been perceived by all residents. Various reports suggest that while some individuals did not feel the quake, others experienced a slight disturbance. Among the localities affected, Sale Al Jadida, located merely 1 kilometer from the epicenter, and Sale, approximately 9 kilometers away, reported similar weak shaking. Notably, Rabat, with its large population of over 1.6 million, is likely to have experienced minimal disturbances.
The weather conditions during the earthquake included light rain with a temperature of 12.7°C (55°F) and humidity levels at 100%, contributing to a damp atmosphere. People residing in areas farther from the epicenter, such as Bouknadel, Temara, and even as far as Mehdya and Skhirate, reported very weak shaking, while towns like Sidi Yahya El Gharb and Khemisset reported not feeling the quake at all. The minor nature of this earthquake emphasizes the geological activity in the region, which is situated in a seismically active zone.
As reported by volcanodiscovery.com.
