The Deadly Impact of Mud-Brick Housing in Morocco's Earthquake

The recent earthquake in Morocco, the deadliest in the country since 1960, has highlighted the vulnerability of traditional mud, brick, and stone-built housing in the region. The use of mud-brick construction, while praised for its ability to regulate heat and its affordability, proved to be uniquely vulnerable to earthquakes. The force of the shaking caused severe destruction to these structures, making it difficult for rescuers to find survivors. The earthquake, which struck in the High Atlas mountains, a region not commonly associated with earthquakes, has left many villages in ruins and exposed millions of people to moderate to severe shaking.