Five Minor Earthquakes Recorded Near Tetouan and M’diq

Rabat – Five small earthquakes were recorded early Wednesday morning in northern Morocco, in the area between Tetouan and M’diq, according to the National Institute of Geophysics.

Nasser Jabour, director of the institute, said the tremors were detected at around 7:31 a.m. Their magnitude ranged between 2 and 3 on the Richter scale, with the strongest reaching 3.1, which was slightly felt by residents.

Four of the tremors were recorded on land between Tetouan and M’diq, while one occurred offshore, in the waters near M’diq. Jabour told SNRT News that this activity is linked to the movement of a geological fault in the region, which can sometimes cause small shifts in underground layers.

Northern Morocco is known for moderate seismic activity due to its location near tectonic boundaries. Small earthquakes like these are not unusual and are generally not dangerous.

Still, recent history means that even light tremors can worry residents. The devastating Al Haouz earthquake left a deep impact on the country. The powerful quake, which struck in September 2023, killed nearly 3,000 people and injured thousands more. Entire villages in the Al Haouz region were destroyed, and many families lost their homes.

Since then, even minor tremors tend to cause concern among residents. Reconstruction efforts in the affected areas have been ongoing, with authorities working to rebuild homes and infrastructure, although many affected families have complained about delays in government measures.