Scientific Committee recommends key actions post-Al Haouz earthquake

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development convened a scientific committee meeting in response to the Al Haouz earthquake. Chaired by Director Mohamed Ben khadim, the committee made recommendations entailing a comprehensive overhaul of the existing earthquake-resistant construction laws.

They have called for the development of precise deformation maps to document the areas affected by surface shifts resulting from the recent seismic event.

The committee, according to exclusive reports obtained by Hespress AR, has also underscored the pressing need to bolster efforts in identifying concrete evidence of various geological faults. This will be achieved through the expertise of geological professionals who will employ aerial photography and structural measurements to ascertain the nature of movements observed within the three identified fault categories.

The committee has emphasized the critical role of incorporating available geoscientific data into decision-making processes throughout all phases of the reconstruction efforts in the affected regions. This crucial recommendation extends to the selection of strategic locations for seismic stations, a responsibility entrusted to the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research throughout the entire reconstruction process in these impacted areas.

This inaugural meeting, which saw the presence of esteemed professors and experts, aims to delve deep into the origins and ramifications of the Al Haouz earthquake. Their rigorous analysis of the region’s geological history reveals a complex tapestry marked by a succession of sedimentary and structural events and phenomena.

The Al Haouz region, known for its rugged terrain featuring towering peaks exceeding 2,500 meters in height and deep valleys, is also defined by its geological intricacies. It encompasses three distinct types of faults, namely first-degree faults running along the North Atlantic and South Atlantic borders of the Atlas Mountains, second-degree faults characterized by a NE-SW direction (including the Tizi-Natast and Erdouz faults), and third-degree faults with two distinct directions, EW and WNW-ESE (such as the Agbar and Okdamet faults).

Drawing upon data furnished by the US Geological Survey and the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, and analyzing the epicenter of the primary earthquake and subsequent aftershocks,  they found that third-degree faults could potentially hold the key to the primary seismic activity.

This data suggests that their extensive geographical reach and relatively shallow incline have played a pivotal role in shaping the seismic force witnessed during the earthquake. While it is plausible that first and second-degree faults may have experienced concurrent activity, their impact appears to have been less pronounced.

The presence of a substantial layer of rocks dating back to the Middle Cambrian period, known as “schistes à Paradoxides,” may have played a crucial role in dampening the overall intensity of the earthquake, as per the analysis of these authoritative sources.