News > Morocco: How an earthquake this severe could happen in 120 years?

Morocco: How an earthquake this severe could happen in 120 years?

A severe earthquake of a magnitude of 6.8 rocked central Morocco, killing at least 820 people and causing widespread damage. As per the USGS, the epicentre was located in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 km southwest of Marrakesh, at a depth of 18.5 km. An earthquake of this magnitude has not occurred in the nation or nearby territories in over 120 years. The shallow quake was caused by “oblique-reverse faulting” in the Atlas Mountains, according to the USGS.