M 6.8 in Morocco on 08 Sep 2023 22:11 UTC

Event summary

This earthquake can have a high humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID EQ 1390643
Earthquake Magnitude: 6.8M
Glide number: EQ-2023-000166-MAR
Depth: 26.3 Km
Lat/Lon: 31.07 , -8.3815
Event Date: 08 Sep 2023 22:11 UTC
08 Sep 2023 23:11 Local
Exposed Population: 920 thousand (in MMI>=VII)
Inserted at: 09 Sep 2023 15:52 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity:
5 (Morocco)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)
GDACS score
NEIC 2.8 2.8
us7000kufc Scaled population (raster) 5.25  
  C1 shakemap -0.59  
  C2 shakemap 0.53  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 0.99  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.
Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
Satellite products
Analytical products
M6.8 in Morocco - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationSat, 09 Sep 2023 14:15

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
M6.8 in Morocco - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationSun, 10 Sep 2023 14:39

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
M6.8 in Morocco - Copernicus EMS activationSun, 10 Sep 2023 23:15

[EMSR695] Earthquake in Marrakesh-Safi Region, Morocco
Morocco - Earthquake, update (ECHO 11 Sep 2023)Mon, 11 Sep 2023 11:26

  • The number of casualties is increasing following the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that occurred on 8 September at 22.11 UTC with epicentre in Al Haouz Province in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km south-west of Marrakesh.
  • Several aftershocks have been registered in the area with the highest of 4.9 M located more than 10 km south-west of the main event.
  • According to the latest report of UN OCHA, as of 10 September, at least 2,122 people died (most of them are recorded in the Al Haouz and Taroudant Provinces) while 2,421 others have been injured. In addition, extensive damage to buildings has been reported, families are still trapped under the rubble, and others are displaced.
  • The search and rescue activities, lead by national authorities, are challenging due to the destroyed and blocked roads and the remote geographic locations of some affected villages.
  • The European Commission is releasing EUR 1 million in humanitarian funding to help the most affected people.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 9 September.

 

M6.8 in Morocco - Copernicus EMS activationMon, 11 Sep 2023 03:38

[EMSR695] Earthquake in Marrakesh-Safi Region, Morocco
M6.8 in Morocco - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationMon, 11 Sep 2023 12:31

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
M6.8 in Morocco - EC/ECHO daily mapMon, 11 Sep 2023 19:24

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Morocco - Earthquake, update (ECHO 12 Sep 2023)Tue, 12 Sep 2023 10:37

  • The humanitarian impact continues to increase after the 6.8M earthquake occurred on 8 September in Al Haouz Province.
  • According to national authorities, almost 2,900 people died (most of them in the Al Haouz Province) while 2,562 others were injured. UNICEF reports at least 100,000 impacted children, and thousands of destroyed houses that resulted in a huge number of displaced families. In addition schools, hospitals and other medical and educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed across the affected area.
  • DG ECHO has allocated EUR 200 000 in support of the Morocco Red Crescent via the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), in addition to EUR 800 000 from the Acute Large Emergency Response Tool (ALERT) to support humanitarian aid operations. DG ECHO staff and UNDAC teams have been deployed in Rabat.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 9 September and five maps have been produced so far.
M6.8 in Morocco - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationTue, 12 Sep 2023 10:32

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
M6.8 in Morocco - Copernicus EMS activationTue, 12 Sep 2023 03:00

[EMSR695] Earthquake in Marrakesh-Safi Region, Morocco
Morocco - Earthquake, update (ECHO 13 Sep 2023)Wed, 13 Sep 2023 11:42

  • According to the latest report from authorities of Morocco, nearly 3,000 people have lost their lives after the 6.8 M earthquake of 8 September that struck Al Haouz Province.
  • More than 5,500 people have been injured, thousands have been displaced and are sheltering outdoors. Moreover, 530 schools and 55 boarding schools have been damaged, particularly in Chichaoua and Taroudant provinces. The rubble on the roads is being removed and several roads are gradually being lifted and rescuers are reaching more towns.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 9 September and nine maps have been produced so far.
Morocco - Earthquake, update (ECHO 14 Sep 2023)Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:55

  • After the 6.8 M earthquake of 8 September in Al Haouz Province, the number of casualties is increasing.
  • According to the national authorities, 2,946 people died while the amount of injured people reached 5,674.
  • The Government of Morocco is conducting the emergency response, in addition, the UN continues close communication with the national authorities.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service (EMSR695) was activated in rapid mapping mode on 9 September and 16 maps have been produced so far.
M6.8 in Morocco - EC/ECHO daily mapThu, 14 Sep 2023 19:46

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Morocco - Earthquake, update (ECHO 15 Sep 2023)Fri, 15 Sep 2023 10:25

  • After the 6.8 M earthquake of 8 September in Al Haouz Province, the damages are still being assessed.
  • According to the Government of Morocco, the death toll stands at 2,946 (of which 1,684 in Al Haouz Province and 980 more in Taroudant Province) and 5,674 injured people were reported. The same source reports, as of 14 September, approximately 50,000 fully or partially collapsed houses across five affected provinces.
  • The Government of Morocco is managing the emergency response with limited presence of international actors. 
  • DG ECHO experts, deployed since 11 September report main needs in the sectors of shelter (adapted tents), winterisation items, WASH, psycho-social support and cash.
  • The Copernicus Emergency Management Service () was activated in rapid mapping mode on 9 September and 16 maps have been produced so far.
M6.8 in Morocco - UNITAR-UNOSAT ActivationMon, 18 Sep 2023 14:08

UNITAR-UNOSAT Potentially Damaged Buildings has been activated
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Estimated casualties (PAGER)

USGS estimates the number of casualties for each earthquake for the Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes for Response (PAGER) product.
The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (47), (3), NEIC (4), OCHA (1), INGV (1), DesInventar (1), WMO (1), USGS (5), INFORM (2),