A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck northern Morocco, triggering fear and memories of the devastating 2023 quake. Though no major damage was reported, residents fled their homes, and experts warn of lingering psychological trauma.

A few minutes before midnight on Monday, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake shook northern Morocco, sending tremors as far as the capital, Rabat. Panic quickly spread, resurfacing painful memories of death and devastation from the 2023 Atlas earthquake.

This time, the epicentre was recorded in the Brikcha commune, located in the province of Ouazzane. Unlike the rugged terrain of the Atlas Mountains, Brikcha lies in a northern region with gentler elevations.

“I was almost asleep when I felt the ground shaking beneath me. I ran outside and tried to wake up my neighbours,” recalled Aicha Khayi, a resident of Brikcha.

Khayi described her terror at the thought of being buried under rubble or losing loved ones—fears that have haunted her since September 2023, when relatives in the Atlas perished in the catastrophic quake.

Brikcha, a rural commune in the Mokrisset district of Ouazzane province, consists of 25 villages and is home to approximately 9,400 residents.

Unlike the Atlas region, where isolated villages are connected to cities by fragile roads that collapsed in the last earthquake, Brikcha has more accessible routes, reducing the likelihood of communities being completely cut off.

“There won’t be destruction like in Al-Haouz. Some old buildings have developed cracks, but nothing major,” said Nasser Jabour, head of the National Institute of Geophysics, which operates under the National Centre for Scientific and Technical Research.

Jabour explained that Brikcha’s geography and the moderate strength of Monday’s quake meant a large-scale disaster was unlikely.

According to local authorities, as reported by the Maghreb Arab Press (MAP), there were no casualties or significant damage.

In the hours following the tremor, officials near the epicentre advised residents to remain outdoors until they could assess the risk of aftershocks.

Despite the relatively minor impact, fear extended beyond Brikcha. In cities from Tangier to Rabat, people rushed out of their homes—some clutching their most valuable possessions, others frantically dialing loved ones in the affected areas.

“Last time, we didn’t know anything until morning. I lost relatives in the Al-Haouz earthquake,” said Mohamed El-Wardi, a resident of Kenitra, located 200 kilometers from the epicentre.

“Thank God for everything, but we can’t handle more loss and trauma,” he added.

Beside him, an elderly woman quietly recited Quranic verses, while others huddled together, whispering prayers for their families’ safety.

Across multiple cities, people spent the night outside in the cold, too afraid to sleep under their own roofs. The haunting images of September’s earthquake—flattened homes, unclaimed bodies, and entire villages still awaiting reconstruction—kept thousands awake.

“The fear and distress after yesterday’s earthquake are tied to many Moroccans’ past experiences with the Al-Haouz disaster,” said Souhail Abounaim, a member of Psychologues Maghreb, an organisation offering free psychological support in disaster-stricken areas.

In 2023, Morocco suffered a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that killed nearly 3,000 people and left over 5,600 injured. More than a year later, around 500,000 people remain displaced, still waiting for the resources to rebuild their homes and lives.

Psychologues Maghreb has warned that the 2023 earthquake may have triggered Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in many Moroccans, both within and outside the affected zones. With limited state support and little public awareness of psychological trauma, many survivors continue to struggle. Monday’s earthquake likely reawakened those symptoms.

“We’re still working with other activists in the quake-struck areas to help people. There’s effort—but this is a long-term process that requires substantial resources,” Abounaim said.

When asked about the government’s role in providing psychological support, he scoffed: “The state is offering nothing.”