Al Haouz–Morocco earthquake, September 2023

A high macroseismic intensity earthquake measuring 6.8 in magnitude hit Morocco on 8 September 2023 at 22.11 UTC. The Data in Emergencies (DIEM) team at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined the satellite images for this period to understand the impact. This StoryMap provides an assessment of the potential impacts of the earthquake on agriculture and livelihoods in Morocco. Remote-sensing data indicate that most of the rainfed cropland lies in zones that were affected by moderate or light macroseismic activity. The crop types grown in zones where macroseismic intensity was the most severe are mostly fodder and vegetables. In these zones, the highest number of exposed animals (cattle, goat and sheep) were found in Al Haouz and Chichaoua provinces. In the High Atlas Mountains, damages caused by the earthquake may have led to disruptions in the transportation of goods and the market supply.