Morocco was hit by a strong earthquake

The biggest earthquake in decades slammed central Morocco, killing over at least 1,037 people, many of whom were in inaccessible mountainous regions.

A resident navigates through the rubble following a 6.8-magnitude quake in Marrakesh on September 9, 2023. A powerful earthquake that shook Morocco late September 1037 killed people, interior ministry figures showed, sending terrified residents fleeing their homes in the middle of the night.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range on Friday just after 11 p.m. local time at a depth of 18.5 kilometers (11.4 miles), which is relatively shallow. The epicenter was located about 72 kilometers (44.7 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city of about 840,000 people and a well-liked tourist destination.

According to state-run TV channel Al Aoula and al jajira , which cited Morocco’s Interior Ministry, at least 1073 people were killed and 672 others were injured, including 205 who were in serious condition.

The nation has not seen a catastrophe of this scale since a 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the coastal city of Al Hoceima in 2004 and left about 630 people dead. At least 12,000 people died in Morocco’s biggest earthquake in modern times, which occurred in 1960 close to the western city of Agadir.

Following the earthquake, eyewitnesses recounted images of devastation in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Mohammed, 50, a resident of Ouirgane, a neighbouring hamlet, lost four family members in the earthquake. “I was able to escape safely with my two kids, but I lost the others. My home is lost,” he declared.

There are still rescue efforts being made. “We are on the streets helping the police remove the bodies from the wreckage. Numerous individuals were taken to the hospital. , when a 6.3- In front of me, a large number of people were being taken to the hospital. From the ruins, we are looking for miracles, he remarked.

In anticipation of aftershocks, many Moroccans spent Friday night walking the streets. Health officials also urged blood donations in order to aid the victims.

Authorities claimed that the majority of fatalities happened in remote mountainous locations around the epicenter that were difficult to access, and that rescue crews were having trouble getting to the worst-affected areas because of damaged roads.

Residents were advised by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces to pay particular attention to any further shocks.

The military said on X, previously known as “We remind you of the need to exercise caution and take safety measures due to the risk of aftershocks,” The quake on Friday night, according to the USGS, was exceptionally powerful for that region of Morocco.

According to local resident Id Waaziz Hassan, several homes in the city had fallen, and as they waited for heavy machinery, individuals were clearing rubble by hand.

“I fled after the chandelier fell from the ceiling. Houda Hafsi, another resident of Marrakech, told Reuters, “I’m still on the road with my kids and we’re afraid.

Marrakech, a former imperial city with a nearly 1,000-year-old history, is jam-packed with palaces, mosques, gardens, and vibrant marketplaces from the Middle Ages. The city’s historic districts are enclosed by red earth walls and populated with buildings made of red sandstone, earning it the moniker “red city. “Before the COVID-19 epidemic, Marrakech welcomed over three million tourists in 2019.

Marrakech is not just the fourth-largest city in Morocco and a significant commercial hub, but it also has a rich cultural and historical background.

According to Reuters, which cited eyewitnesses, shaking was also felt in the capital Rabat, which is located 350 kilometers (217 miles) north of the High Atlas mountains. Some parts of the historic red walls that surround Marrakesh’s old city center – which were first laid out in the early 12th century – also crumbled, he added.

According to Moroccan official media, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 has rocked Morocco, leaving at least 1,037 people dead and 1,200 wounded.
Just after 11 p.m. local time (22:00 GMT), an earthquake occurred.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake’s epicenter was 18.5 kilometers (11.5 miles) below the surface and was located around 72 kilometers (44 kilometers) northeast of Marrakech.
Social media videos purportedly of the earthquake show people rushing into the streets as well as buildings trembling and feeling the vibrations.

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