Minor Earthquake Recorded in Ain Chkef, Morocco
On the morning of Tuesday, October 27, 2026, a mild earthquake measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale was registered in Ain Chkef, a locality under the jurisdiction of the Moulay Yacoub province, situated just outside Fes in the Fes-Meknes region. This observation comes from verified data collected by Hespress through communication with the National Institute of Geophysics, which continuously monitors seismic activity across Morocco.
According to an official at the institute, the earthquake occurred at approximately 6:30 AM, with its epicenter pinpointed in Ain Chkef. The same source noted that there had been no reports or inquiries from local residents or authorities seeking additional information, indicating that the tremor was likely not felt by the local population. The official emphasized that this tremor is part of a normal seismic activity pattern, stating that the institute has previously documented earthquakes in the same area.
Interestingly, a digital application specializing in seismic monitoring recorded the earthquake's magnitude at 3.1, suggesting that the discrepancy between the two figures is typically due to variations in the networks and calculation methods used. It is essential to note that the official measurement remains that which is reported by the National Institute of Geophysics.
In mid-May of this year, Nasser Jbour, an expert at the institute, conveyed to Hespress that the seismic activity in northern Morocco was occurring at a relatively steady pace, with around 16 earthquakes documented over the span of three days, averaging four to five tremors daily. Jbour noted that this seismic activity is expected to persist in the region for an extended period, as it has recently experienced a prolonged quiet phase before returning to such a notable frequency of seismic events.
The director of the institute, who specializes in seismic activity in Morocco, attributed this increased seismicity to the aftereffects of the significant Al-Haouz earthquake that occurred on September 8, 2023. This major seismic event has reportedly impacted the stability of the Earth's crust throughout Morocco's geographic region, including maritime areas in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, leading previously dormant geological faults to enter a phase of activity that necessitates close monitoring.
As reported by hespress.com.
