Earthquake in Morocco: in 1960, 12,000 people were killed in Agadir

The city of Agadir, located on the Atlantic coast of the country, was practically razed to the ground in a few seconds, leaving more than 12,000 dead, or a third of the population, thousands injured and tens of thousands homeless.

The speed with which the earthquake struck took the population completely by surprise. It was around 11:40 p.m. when the earth began to tremble, and in just 15 seconds, many buildings, including schools, hospitals and homes, collapsed. The scale of the destruction was such that King Mohammed V of Morocco decided not to rebuild the city in its original location, opting instead for a new location further from the coast.

This earthquake had a significant impact not only on the human level, but also on construction policies and regulations in the region. Building standards have been revised and updated to make buildings more earthquake-resistant. It also prompted governments and organizations to invest more in seismic research and disaster preparedness.

Nearly sixty-three years after the tragedy, Agadir has been rebuilt and developed into a modern city, but the memory of the earthquake continues to serve as a warning.

This Friday, September 8, a powerful earthquake hit the Marrakech region, killing more than 600 people and injuring hundreds. The tremors were felt in Agadir, reminding some of the painful 1960 earthquake.