Big aftershock of Moroccan quake hits Al Hoceima

AL HOCEIMA, Morocco (AFP) Feb 27, 2004
A major aftershock of Tuesday's devastating earthquake that hit northeast Morocco was felt early Friday in the port city of Al Hoceima and nearby towns and villages.

Buildings shook in this city on the Mediterranean coast, but there were no immediate signs of damage and residents did not panic.

People contacted by telephone in Tammazint, 20 kilometres (12 miles) south of Al Hoceima and in Ait Kamra, 20 kilometres southeast of here and the epicentre of the main quake, told AFP they had felt the latest aftershock but said there was no apparent damage.

Seismologists have registered more than 200 aftershocks since Tuesday's earthquake which killed 571 people and injured more than 400, according to the latest provisional toll.

Several of them measured between 4.5 and 5.2 degrees on the Richter scale compared with 6.3 for the main quake.

TERRA.WIRE