A major earthquake struck Morocco less than a month after the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, killing at least 15,000 people in Fes and Meknes.
Key Facts
- Date
- 27 November 1755
- Moment Magnitude (Mw)
- 6.5–7.0 (estimated)
- Minimum Death Toll
- 15,000 people
- Cities Devastated
- Fes and Meknes
- Days After Lisbon Earthquake
- Less than 30 days
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Tectonic stress changes resulting from the catastrophic 1 November 1755 Lisbon earthquake likely triggered rupture along a separate fault in northern Morocco. Although initially classified as an aftershock of the Lisbon event, later analysis indicated it was an independent seismic event driven by redistributed stress in the region.
On 27 November 1755, an earthquake with an estimated moment magnitude of 6.5 to 7.0 struck Morocco, with severe shaking experienced in the cities of Fes and Meknes. The event caused widespread structural destruction across both urban centers within a matter of minutes.
At least 15,000 people were killed across Fes and Meknes, making it one of the deadliest seismic events in Moroccan history. The disaster compounded the regional devastation already caused by the Lisbon earthquake earlier that same month, leaving much of northern Morocco severely affected.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 15,000 (earthquake)