A magnitude 4.9 earthquake off the Strait of Gibraltar was felt across several Moroccan cities, but does not raise concern, the head of Morocco’s National Institute of Geophysics said, stressing the importance of preparedness.
The tremor, recorded on Tuesday at a depth of about 55 km, was felt in Tangier, Rabat, Casablanca and Kenitra despite their distance from the epicentre, according to Moroccan media reports.
Nasser Jabour said the quake was of moderate intensity and occurred off the northern coast in a region historically known for recurring seismic activity.
“The preparedness remains a key issue in dealing with these natural phenomena,” he told Hespress, adding that “advance preparation remains more effective than reacting after earthquakes occur.”
Jabour said it was normal for tremors of this magnitude and depth to be felt across a wide geographical area.
He noted that the geological zone between northern Morocco and southern Spain is marked by active fault lines where tectonic energy is periodically released, leading to recurring seismic activity.
Jabour said earthquake prediction remained scientifically limited, with no precise way to determine timing or location, adding that some areas may remain quiet for long periods before activity resumes.
A smaller aftershock of magnitude 3.1 was recorded earlier the same day near M’diq, he said, describing it as a weak secondary tremor not comparable to the main quake.
He added that aftershocks linked to Morocco’s 2023 Al Haouz earthquake were still ongoing and could continue for years.
Jabour said the situation did not warrant alarm but called for vigilance, noting that Morocco had strengthened seismic monitoring and preparedness measures in recent years.
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