The deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history, killing up to 15,000 people and destroying roughly a third of Agadir's population.
Key Facts
- Magnitude
- 5.8 Mw
- Depth
- 15.0 km (shallow focus) km
- Maximum intensity
- X (Extreme) — Mercalli scale
- Death toll
- 12,000–15,000 (~one third of city) people
- Injured
- 12,000 people
- Homeless
- At least 35,000 people
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
A shallow-focus seismic event struck close to the densely populated port city of Agadir on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The earthquake's relatively shallow depth of 15 km amplified ground shaking at the surface, and widespread use of inadequate construction methods left much of the city's building stock highly vulnerable to even moderate seismic forces.
On 29 February 1960 at 23:40 local time, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Agadir, generating surface shaking of intensity X (Extreme) on the Mercalli scale. The districts of Founty, the Kasbah, Yachech/Ihchach, and Talborjt suffered particularly severe destruction as buildings collapsed across the city.
Between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed—approximately one third of Agadir's population at the time—12,000 more were injured, and at least 35,000 were left homeless. The disaster remains the most destructive and deadly earthquake in the recorded history of Morocco, prompting reassessment of building standards and seismic risk in the region.
Human Cost
Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 12,000 (earthquake)
Range: 12,000 – 15,000