1960 — The Agadir Earthquake

On February 29, 1960, at 11:40 p.m., an earthquake struck Agadir, on Morocco's Atlantic coast. It measured about 5.8 in magnitude, modest on paper, but its shallow depth put its force directly beneath the city. In less than fifteen seconds, old and new buildings collapsed across Agadir.

Between 12,000 and 15,000 people were killed, about a third of the city's population, with another 12,000 injured and at least 35,000 left homeless. The Kasbah and the Yachech and Talborjt districts were devastated. It remains the deadliest earthquake in Moroccan history, and the ruined city was rebuilt to modern seismic standards. Reconstruction began in 1961, and a new Agadir rose south of the ruins.