Earthquake Hits Northern Morocco, Felt as Far as Rabat
On the evening of March 17, 2026, a light earthquake struck the northern coast of Morocco, with its epicenter located offshore near Tétouan. The seismic activity was significant enough to be felt widely, reaching the capital city of Rabat and surrounding regions. According to the latest measurements released by the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC), the earthquake was originally recorded at a magnitude of 4.4 on the Richter scale. The quake occurred at a considerable depth of approximately 97 kilometers beneath the waters of the Strait of Gibraltar, with precise coordinates placing it 69 kilometers east of Gibraltar and 60 kilometers southeast of the Spanish city of Marbella.
In addition to the primary quake, a lighter tremor was recorded in central Morocco. This secondary seismic event, measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale, was detected about 30 kilometers southwest of Midelt, in the area between the Drâa-Tafilalet and Béni Mellal-Khénifra regions. The tremors were reported to have no casualties or significant damage, although residents in various areas experienced mild shaking.
Additional Seismic Activities Recorded in Morocco
In recent days, Morocco has experienced a series of minor earthquakes. For instance, on Thursday evening, a magnitude 4.0 tremor was registered in the Alboran Sea, as reported by the National Institute of Geophysics (ING). Furthermore, another earthquake measuring 4.0 was recorded on March 14 at 17:13 in the province of Sidi Kacem, with its epicenter located in the commune of Sidi Ahmed Benaissa at a depth of 33 kilometers. Additionally, a seismic event of magnitude 4.5 was noted in the Al Haouz province near Oukaïmeden on March 17, which was felt by the residents of Marrakech, indicating a pattern of seismic activity affecting various parts of the country.
As reported by bladi.net.
