The September 8 earthquake in Morocco stands as one of the busiest seismic events in a century, marking a stark reminder of how vulnerable built environments can be. The tremor, with an epicenter near the High Atlas mountains about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, unleashed widespread devastation. Cities were left in ruins, with fatalities climbing into the thousands and injuries reaching into the thousands as well.
Images that followed the disaster depict urban areas reduced to rubble, where very few structures remain standing. Initial assessments pointed toward traditional building practices as a contributing factor, particularly the extensive use of adobe. Yet experts emphasized that the root issue lies not solely in the material, but in a broader mix of factors including construction methods and the overall seismic resilience of the built environment.
The event measured around 6.8 on the Richter scale and registered VII on the Mercalli intensity scale. This combination translates to negligible damage for well-designed, well-constructed buildings, light to moderate harm for ordinary structures, and significant damage for poorly built ones when subjected to strong shaking.
Morocco has had seismic regulations in place since 2001, but a substantial portion of older buildings do not meet these standards. Many homes have been constructed with practical intuition and local materials, and where regulation was not followed, the structural safety depended on more than just the material used. Building quality, maintenance, and the incorporation of durability-enhancing techniques all influence how a given structure would fare in a quake.
Seismic resistant material
The concern about the reliance on traditional, low-cost materials persists because it represents the only affordable option for many communities. Laboratory tests conducted in various regions show that when earthen materials are fortified with specific structural strategies, their resistance to earthquakes improves. The push to adopt concrete and modern framing is often driven by economic pressures, but fortification techniques can help reduce fragility without abandoning familiar, locally available resources.
It is important to avoid the notion that concrete automatically guarantees safety. Historical examples reveal that even newer quakes can cause severe damage in places where protection standards are unevenly applied. A notable case in another country illustrates how a moderate quake caused extensive consequences, underscoring the fact that design and enforcement matter as much as material choice. In the Moroccan context, areas with greater exposure to European architectural influences may still experience substantial material damage, underscoring that seismic risk is a function of design, construction practices, and regulatory alignment, not just the materials used.
old techniques
Traditional Maghreb construction relies on time-tested methods that prioritize local resources and sustainability. This approach can meet daily needs and endure in normal conditions, but it does not automatically guarantee resilience against earthquakes of high magnitude. Experts emphasize that seismic resistance is not a byproduct of tradition alone; it requires thoughtful integration of modern safety concepts with proven local practices.
The rebuilding phase will likely reveal tensions between strict regulation and the economic realities faced by many families. Adobe remains an affordable and readily available option for many communities. Concrete, while strong, involves higher costs and import logistics. Researchers point to adaptable solutions that blend local materials with reinforced systems, such as lightweight frontings or mesh-based reinforcements, which can be implemented with community effort and minimal specialized equipment. These approaches offer a practical pathway for safer reconstruction that respects local context while enhancing resilience.