What the record shows for Morocco
The strongest earthquake on record near Morocco is a magnitude 6.8 in 2023, centred Al Haouz, Morocco - 3 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 47 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Morocco - roughly 2 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 333 km of Morocco between 1731 and 1960. The most significant was in 1960 near Morocco, triggered by an M6.8 earthquake, which killed around 13,100 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Morocco’s Atlas mountains lie on the Africa–Eurasia plate boundary, the source of the 2023 Marrakesh earthquake.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Morocco.
Earthquake risk in Morocco - FAQ
Is Morocco at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 2 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M6.8 in 2023.
What was the biggest earthquake in Morocco?
The strongest earthquake on record near Morocco is M6.8, in 2023 (Al Haouz, Morocco), from USGS.
Does Morocco get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1731 (most recently 1960) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 13,100 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Morocco?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.