On Friday night, a devastating earthquake struck Morocco, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and causing significant damage to buildings and historic landmarks in major cities.
The Interior Ministry of Morocco reported that, as of early Saturday, at least 296 people had perished in the provinces affected by the earthquake, with an additional 153 individuals being hospitalized for treatment. The ministry stated that most of the destruction occurred in rural areas, away from urban centers.
Various videos posted by Moroccans showcased the aftermath of the earthquake, displaying buildings reduced to rubble and dust. The famous red walls surrounding the old city in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, were also damaged. Tourists and locals filmed chaotic scenes of people evacuating restaurants while music played in the background.
Following earthquakes, comprehensive reports on damage and casualties often take time to gather, particularly when these events occur during the night.
“We felt a very violent tremor, and I realized it was an earthquake,” recounted Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old resident of Marrakesh, during a call with Agence France-Presse. “I could see buildings moving,” El Amrani said. “We don’t necessarily have the reflexes for this type of situation. Then I went outside and there were a lot of people there. People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying, and the parents were distraught.”
Rather than returning to their buildings, people chose to remain outside on the streets, fearing aftershocks or subsequent tremors that could cause their homes to collapse.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 for the earthquake, which occurred at 11:11 p.m. local time and lasted for several seconds. Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it as a 7 on the Richter scale. The USGS also reported an aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9 that struck 19 minutes later.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located high in the Atlas Mountains, approximately 43.5 miles southwest of Marrakech. It was also situated near Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, and Oukaimeden, a popular Moroccan ski resort.
According to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency, the earthquake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria. Discrepancies in early measurements are common, although either reading would make this earthquake the most powerful in Morocco’s recent history.
In 2004, another earthquake struck Al Hoceima in northeastern Morocco, resulting in a death toll of at least 628 people and leaving 926 individuals injured, according to the AFP.
The neighboring country of Algeria experienced the devastating El Asnam earthquake in 1980, which had a magnitude of 7.3. This earthquake caused immense destruction, claiming the lives of 2,500 individuals and leaving over 300,000 people homeless, as reported by the AFP.
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