A magnitude-4.4 earthquake was recorded in Morocco on Monday afternoon, Nov. 9, with its epicenter in the commune of Ait M’hamed in Azilal province, according to preliminary data from the National Institute of Geophysics.
The national seismic monitoring and early-warning network detected the tremor at 12:37:23 p.m. GMT, at a depth of 12 kilometers. The institute classified the earthquake as felt by residents.
Its preliminary coordinates were 31.771 degrees north latitude and 6.432 degrees west longitude. The institute said the data could be revised as further information becomes available.
In comments to Hespress AR, National Institute of Geophysics Director Nasser Jbour confirmed that the Beni Mellal region has been experiencing an increase in seismic activity.
“Yes, the region is witnessing an increase in the pace of seismic activity,” Jbour said.
The latest tremor came a day after a magnitude-3.7 earthquake was recorded near Beni Mellal, in the Takzert area, on Sunday evening, Nov. 8, according to official data.
An international earthquake-tracking application also detected Monday’s tremor at the same time, estimating its magnitude at 3.8 on the body-wave magnitude scale. It placed the epicenter at 31.83 degrees north latitude and 6.45 degrees west longitude, also in Azilal province, and described the earthquake as felt by residents. The application reported only minor damage.
Jbour has previously linked seismic activity recorded in Morocco in recent months to the effects of the powerful Al Haouz earthquake of Sept. 8, 2023.
He said the 2023 earthquake affected the balance of the Earth’s crust across Morocco, including areas along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts, potentially bringing previously dormant geological faults into a more active phase that requires close monitoring.
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