2004 Al Hoceima earthquake

2004 Al Hoceima earthquake
Agadir
Tangier
UTC time 2004-02-24 02:27:46
ISC event 7254476
USGS-ANSS ComCat
Local date 24 February 2004 (2004-02-24)
Local time 02:27
Magnitude 6.3 Mw [1]
Depth 12.2 km (7.6 mi) [1]
Epicenter 35°14′N 4°01′W / 35.23°N 4.02°W / 35.23; -4.02Coordinates: 35°14′N 4°01′W / 35.23°N 4.02°W / 35.23; -4.02 [1]
Type Strike-slip [2]
Areas affected Morocco
Max. intensity IX (Violent) [2]
Peak acceleration 0.24 g [2]
Casualties 628–631 dead [3]
926 injured [3]
12,539–15,000 displaced [3]

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 were injured, and up to 15,000 people were made 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 injured one person and caused significant damage to adobe buildings.[4]

Damage

Ground cracks and landslides were observed between Ajdir and Beni Abdallah and maximum peak ground acceleration of 0.24g was recorded near Imzourene.

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

  1. 1 2 3 ISC (2015), ISC-GEM Global Instrumental Earthquake Catalogue (1900–2009), Version 2.0, International Seismological Centre
  2. 1 2 3 USGS. "M6.4 – Strait of Gibraltar". United States Geological Survey.
  3. 1 2 3 USGS (September 4, 2009), PAGER-CAT Earthquake Catalog, Version 2008_06.1, United States Geological Survey
  4. ↑ Goodman, Al (February 25, 2004). "Over 500 killed in Morocco quake". CNN.

Sources

  • Akoglu, A. M.; Cakir, Z.; Meghraoui, M.; Belabbes, S.; El Alami, S. O.; Ergintav, S.; Akyüz, H. Serdar (2006), "The 1994–2004 Al Hoceima (Morocco) earthquake sequence: Conjugate fault ruptures deduced from InSAR" (PDF), Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Elsevier, 252 (3–4): 467–480, Bibcode:2006E&PSL.252..467A, doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2006.10.010
  • Cakir, Z.; Meghraoui, M.; Akoglu, A. M.; Jabour, N.; Belabbes, S.; Ait-Brahim, L. (2006), "Surface Deformation Associated with the Mw 6.4, 24 February 2004 Al Hoceima, Morocco, Earthquake Deduced from InSAR: Implications for the Active Tectonics along North Africa", Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, Seismological Society of America, 96 (1): 59–68, Bibcode:2006BuSSA..96...59C, doi:10.1785/0120050108
  • Stich, D.; de Lis Mancilla, F.; Baumont, D.; Morales, J. (2005), "Source analysis of the Mw 6.3 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake (Morocco) using regional apparent source time functions" (PDF), Journal of Geophysical Research, American Geophysical Union , 110 (B06306): 1–13, Bibcode:2005JGRB..110.6306S, doi:10.1029/2004jb003366
  • Telesca, L.; Rouai, M.; Cherkaoui, T. E. (2009), "Time-clustering behavior in the sequence of the aftershocks of the Al-Hoceima (Morocco) 24 February 2004 earthquake" (PDF), Natural Hazards and Earth System Sciences, European Geosciences Union, 9 (6): 2063–2066, doi:10.5194/nhess-9-2063-2009
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