El earthquake in Morocco Last Friday was probably one of the most devastating in the history of that country. However, what draws experts' attention is its intensity, not the fact that it occurred.
The Alawite nation is located in an area of risk of earthquakes, as we will explain below. But, furthermore, not even the strength of this earthquake it's amazing. In 2004, the African country suffered another 6,4 degrees on the Richter scale and, in 1960, the city of Agadir registered one of 5,8 which left more than twelve thousand victims. Therefore, the earthquake in Morocco last Friday is nothing surprising. But why did it occur? We show it to you below.
The causes of the earthquake in Morocco
As with other areas of our planet, Morocco is subject to the influence of powerful tectonic forces that sometimes release energy causing earthquakes. Specifically, there is near the confluence of two tectonic plates: the African and the Eurasian. The Atlas Mountains It is an example of how these forces have formed extensive mountain ranges in the region.
The first includes large areas of the African continent itself and the Atlantic and Indian oceans. For its part, the second extends from the Atlantic to the northern Pacific, encompassing a good part of Europe and Asia. Furthermore, in the Mediterranean Sea area, the African plate is constantly moving towards the north and this causes clash with the Eurasian.
This convergence has given rise to different geological phenomena such as mountain formation or volcanic activity. For example, it has been essential in the emergence of the Alps and influences the activity of volcanoes Italy. But, in addition, the constant interaction between both plates gives rise, precisely, to earthquakes like the one last Friday.
What was the earthquake like? Intensity and epicenter
The devastating earthquake that the African country has suffered has had a intensity of 6,8 on the Richter scale. This has been indicated by the United States Geological Survey, which has also highlighted that it is the strongest that the area has suffered since 1900. However, as we have seen, not by much difference, since the 2004 one was only four tenths less. Furthermore, about twenty minutes after the first tremor, there was a 4,8 degree aftershock.
The epicenter was about seventy kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech, specifically in full atlas mountains. As you know, this name is given to the point on the earth's surface that is above the hypocenter or inner focus of the land where the earthquake occurs. Therefore, it is the most affected area. This circumstance has caused there to be more victims, since the buildings in that area were not prepared for earthquakes.
In fact, the magnitude of the earthquake was not as strong as others. For example, that of Chile of 2010 had it 8,8 degrees and what happened in Indian Ocean In 2004 it reached an intensity of 9,3. However, the most violent that has been recorded also took place in the Chilean town of Valdivia in 1960. It was 9,5 degrees on the Richter scale.
Then you will wonder why the outbreak in Morocco last Friday was so devastating. According to experts, the cause has been the shallow depth of the hypocenter or focus. This was located only 8,5 kilometers below the earth's surface. And the deeper it is, the more the seismic waves are attenuated and the damage on the surface decreases.
But another reason for the devastation caused by the earthquake, which we will tell you about later, has to do with the poverty of the area. As we told you, the houses in the mountains of high atlas They are not prepared for earthquakes. They are constructions of adobe and mud. And, to make matters worse, the earthquake occurred at night, when the vast majority of its inhabitants were inside them.
The tragic effects of the Moroccan earthquake
According to the most recent data, the earthquake in the African country has caused almost three thousand fatalities and about two thousand five hundred injured of which fifteen hundred are serious. However, these are provisional figures. In fact, the authorities in the Alawite country are sure that many more people have perished.
There are numerous remote villages in the Atlas Mountains that have not even been reached yet because the roads have been closed. In them, which, as we said, have been the epicenter of the earthquake, it is certain that many people have been trapped under the rubble. In fact, the country's army is busy these days in open these routes to bring food and water to those affected. Therefore, we will have to wait a while to know the true dimensions of the catastrophe. Fortunately, international aid has begun to arrive in Morocco, whose authorities have declared three days of national mourning.
More specifically, the areas of the country that have suffered the greatest damage are those around the cities of Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Taroudant and Chichaoua. However, the effects of the earthquake have been felt in the nearby Algeria and in our Canary Islands. There have even been some areas of the Western Andalusia that they have noticed them. And this leads us to wonder if an earthquake of these characteristics could happen in Spain.
Seismic risk in Spain
Our country is also close to the confluence of the African and Eurasian plates. Therefore, due to their interaction, it can also be triggered seismic activity in Spain. However, The National Geographic Institute considers this risk "moderate". In our case, the fracture between plates that spans from Azores to Tunisia via the Alboran Sea.
As a consequence, the areas with the greatest seismic activity in our nation are those in the south and east. More specifically, it is the provinces of Granada and Almería, in which, in addition, several tectonic microplates act. And, since you cannot guess with certainty when an earthquake is going to happen, it is important that these areas have adequate protection against it.
In conclusion, the morocco earthquake It has had devastating effects on the population. At the moment, only provisional data is known, as many areas still remain isolated. However, all the help we send will be little. Dare to contribute.