No Damage Reported as 5.2-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Morocco’s Ouezzane Province

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Ouezzane Province, Morocco, on Monday evening. The quake caused no damage, although tremors were felt widely, triggering memories of a deadly 2023 earthquake. The government is enhancing disaster management strategies, investing significantly in risk reduction projects.

On Monday evening, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake occurred in Ouezzane Province, northern Morocco, as confirmed by the National Institute of Geophysics. Thankfully, there have been no reported damages, according to the Moroccan news agency MAP. The quake struck at 11:48 p.m. at a depth of 20 kilometers, near Ksar el-Kebir in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, located at 34.954 degrees north latitude and 5.635 degrees west longitude.

The tremors from the earthquake reverberated up to 200 kilometers south, affecting major cities such as Fez, Casablanca, Rabat, as well as Tangier and Tetouan in the north. This incident caused many Moroccans to leave their homes, reminding them of the catastrophic earthquake in 2023 that claimed at least 3,000 lives and severely damaged infrastructure, particularly in small villages.

In light of the recent natural disasters, Morocco has committed to enhancing its disaster management strategies. In 2023, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit highlighted that 325 projects amounting to MAD 4.72 billion ($471 million) were funded under the program titled “Incentives for the Development of Disaster Risk Reduction and Prevention Activities.” Laftit also noted that this funding included contributions from the Fund to Combat the Effects of Natural Disasters, which accounted for one-third of the overall financial resources allocated to the initiative.

The recent 5.2-magnitude earthquake in Ouezzane Province of Morocco has thankfully resulted in no reported damages. This event has prompted recollections of the devastating earthquake in 2023. In response to such natural disasters, the Moroccan government has implemented extensive disaster management measures, including significant funding for risk reduction and prevention programs. These initiatives aim to enhance resilience against future earthquakes and protect local communities.

Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com