ORCID

Document Type

Article

Abstract

On 8 September 2023, a Mw 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas region, causing nearly 3,000 fatalities and widespread damage across rural, mountainous settlements dominated by traditional and non-engineered construction, and affecting cultural heritage assets. The event triggered landslides that further increased the isolation of affected communities. This study presents findings from the Earthquake Engineering Field Investigation Team (EEFIT) mission. Different radar and optical remote sensing techniques were used to identify areas most affected by earthquake-induced landslides and building damage, guiding the field investigations. A total of 2,671 earthquake-induced landslides were identified; although relatively limited for an event of this magnitude, they significantly impacted road accessibility and emergency response. In parallel, 455 buildings were assessed on site and classified using the EMS–98 scale. Seismic performance was primarily influenced by construction practices and detailing rather than structural typology. Traditional unreinforced masonry buildings exhibited the highest vulnerability, largely due to substandard materials and construction practices, and limited upkeep, which are common in remote villages. Hybrid constructions combining traditional and modern techniques also performed poorly. Confined masonry and reinforced concrete buildings generally performed better, although deficiencies in detailing and irregular configurations were frequently observed. Cultural heritage assets sustained predominantly moderate damage, and stabilisation efforts are ongoing. By combining remote sensing and systematic engineering field observations within a common geospatial framework, the study presents a multi-layer reconnaissance framework for interpreting landslide inventories, building damage, and cultural heritage observations together in data scarce mountainous regions, while highlighting priorities for future research and practice.

Publication Date

2026-10-15

Publication Title

International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction

Volume

145

ISSN

2212-4209

Acceptance Date

2026-08-25

Deposit Date

2026-09-02

Funding

This work was supported by NE/Y006356/, AECOM and the TU Delft Safety & Security Institute

Keywords

Earthquake reconnaissance, remote sensing, earthquake-induced landslides, building damage assessment, multi-layer geospatial framework, multi-hazard assessment, mountainous regions, Building damage assessment, Multi-hazard assessment, Mountainous regions, Remote sensing, Earthquake-induced landslides, Multi-layer geospatial framework

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