Earthquake near the northern Moroccan coast
The 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake occurred on 24 February at 02:27:47 local time near the coast of northern Morocco. The strike-slip earthquake measured 6.3 on the moment magnitude scale and had a maximum perceived intensity of IX ("Violent") on the Mercalli intensity scale. Between 628 and 631 people were killed, 926 injured, and up to 15,000 people were rendered homeless in the Al Hoceima-Imzourene-Beni Abdallah area.
Earthquake.
The moment tensor and pattern of surface cracks indicate left-lateral strike-slip faulting on a buried NE-SW trending fault.
This earthquake occurred near the epicenter of the magnitude 6.0 Al Hoceima earthquake of May 26, 1994, that had injured one person and caused significant damage to buildings.
Damage.
Ground cracks and landslides were observed between Ajdir and Beni Abdallah and maximum peak ground acceleration of 0.24g was recorded near Imzourene. Many fatalities occurred in Al Hoceima, a coastal city along the Mediterranean Sea. Mohammed Boudra, the mayor of Al Hoceima, said most of the casualties were women and children. Further inland, many more residents of scattered villages within the Rif Mountains died. The mud houses of Tazaghin, Tizi Ayash and Imzourn, villages on the mountain, were damaged. The village of Ait Kamara was also "completely destroyed".
Aftershocks.
Several aftershocks killed at least three people and destroyed previously weakened buildings. This earthquake occurred near the eastern end of the Rif mountain belt, which is part of the diffuse boundary between the African and Eurasian plates.
References.
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