Morocco: an earthquake triggered by phosphate extraction

An earthquake shook certain areas of the Béni Mellal-Khénifra region on Saturday, more precisely in Béni Oukil, between the towns of Fquih Ben Salah and Khouribga. Nasser Jabbour, director of the National Institute of Geophysics (INGP), responsible for seismic monitoring in Morocco, affirms that this earthquake is caused by the extraction of phosphates.

An earthquake measuring 3.3 degrees was recorded at 12 p.m. on Saturday. The epicenter of the earthquake is located near the region of Béni Oukil, about 20 kilometers from the towns of Oued Zem and Fquih Ben Salah, reveal websites specializing in monitoring earthquakes. A certain number of residents of these regions confirmed having felt the earthquake.