Morocco Earthquake 2023

Impact, Response, and Connections to Course Themes

by Luis Faria
Overview
1 Impact
Magnitude-6.8 earthquake caused 2,900 deaths and 5,500 injuries
Geographic Context
Extensive Damage
Lax building standards led to extensive damage in remote mountain villages, particularly in Al
Haouz province
Tectonic Origin
Complex Tectonic Environment

Earthquake's origin on the African Plate caused a thrust fault and upward movement
Relief Challenges

Challenges
Difficulty in reaching hard-to-access areas led to criticism of response efforts
Aid Decision

Selective Acceptance
Concerns
Concerns raised about the selective acceptance of aid, emphasizing the need for coordinated relief efforts
Sources
1 Encyclopedia Britannica 2 Relief Web
https://www.britannica.com/event/ https://reliefweb.int/disaster/eq-2023-
Morocco-earthquake-of-2023 000166-mar
Course Themes
1 Inequality
Exposes issues in disaster response related to inequality

2 Governance
Connection to governance challenges in disaster management

3 Political Geography
Links to political geography and its impact on relief efforts
Economic Development
Connection Disparities in building standards and infrastructure
in less economically developed areas
Conclusion
Recap
Emphasizes broader implications for disaster management and economic development