Sea Level Drop Sparks Tsunami Fears Along Moroccan Coast

Is there a risk of tsunami in Morocco? Following the alleged installation of panels warning of tsunami risk zones and streets in coastal cities, particularly on the beach of the Moroccan city of El Jadida, and the recent circulation of videos on social networks showing the retreat of the sea, many vacationers and residents fear the occurrence of a natural disaster. Tayeb, one of the visitors to the Oualidia beach, is concerned about the notable drop in water level. He claims that he has been frequenting this beach since the 1990s and has never observed such a drop before. While some associate this phenomenon with a potential tsunami wave, he believes that there is no concrete evidence to support this hypothesis. Mohamed, a resident of the region, expresses his surprise at the massive spread of these rumors this year. According to him, the tidal phenomenon is the main reason for the drop in water level on the beach. This phenomenon is natural and should not cause concern, he explains, urging not to be carried away by rumors that could harm the reputation of the city and its inhabitants.

This phenomenon is natural and occurs due to the accumulation of sand due to the interaction of several natural factors such as wave movement, ocean currents and wind, confirms Abdelwahed El Makhfi, president of the Association of Water Sports. It appears from these explanations that these factors act together to move the sand from one place to another on the beach - which leads to a change in its shape over time - and that the Oualidia beach in particular is subject to the effects of the tidal phenomenon. The sand accumulates significantly at this time of year, he notes, stressing the need for the authorities to intervene to bring the beach back to its natural state. A task that will not take more than a month. What is spreading on social networks about the "disappearance of the sea" is just rumors aimed at attracting views, estimates a municipal councilor. According to him, the videos showing the beaches devoid of water were filmed during the low tide period, which is a natural phenomenon observed in most coastal towns in Morocco. These rumors could economically harm the region, as they could lead to a decrease in the number of tourists, thus causing an economic recession that would negatively affect the inhabitants of the region, the elected official points out.

Scientists are joining the debate. The drop in water levels on certain Moroccan coasts this year is not a new phenomenon, as it was observed in the Sidi Ifni region last year, explains the president of the Association of Life and Earth Science Teachers in Morocco, Souss-Massa regional section, adding that this phenomenon has been repeated in many countries such as Palestine, Lebanon and several European countries. Climate change, water depth or the position of the planets, or even the gravity of the moon and sun, would be the cause of this phenomenon. According to his explanations, the most logical hypothesis is the influence of the gravity of the moon and sun, as they control the tidal movements. Also, he stressed that the retreat of the sea can be considered a tidal phenomenon, but it occurs over a larger and exceptional distance. However, he rules out the hypothesis linking the phenomenon to climate change.

Global warming and the melting of the polar ice caps lead to an increase in water levels, not a decrease, he further explains. The expert also reassured citizens who fear the tsunami phenomenon. "It is far from the causes that lead to the retreat of the sea, because a tsunami occurs following an earthquake in the middle of the sea, causing large waves, while what we are observing is a retreat of the waters and not the opposite," he continues. Regarding the installation of panels warning of tsunami risk zones and streets in coastal cities, particularly on the beach of the Moroccan city of El Jadida, he said that these panels are part of a project of the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research in partnership with the Chouaib Doukkali Faculty of El Jadida, funded by UNESCO, with the aim of raising awareness of this phenomenon. The city of El Jadida was chosen as a pilot city to apply this initiative, and the panels will later be generalized to all coastal cities, the scientist completes.