An earthquake measuring a minimum magnitude of 6.8 ravaged Morocco last Friday, wreaking havoc in a region where numerous fragile structures were unable to withstand the tremors. Official estimates suggest that the death toll has risen into the thousands as of Saturday.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey (earthquake intensity); WorldPop (population data)
According to the United States Geological Survey, the epicenter was located approximately 35 miles west of Oukaimeden, a renowned ski resort in the High Atlas Mountains. Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, saw alleyways filled with rubble, while villages in the countryside were left with flattened houses.
An analysis by The New York Times reveals that the affected area, where the possibility of damage was highest, is home to around 1.8 million people. An additional 3 million people experienced moderate shaking. These findings are based on shake intensity data from the U.S. Geological Survey and population density data from WorldPop.
The majority of known victims so far are located in the Al Haouz region, just south of Marrakesh.
Sources: U.S. Geological Survey (earthquake intensity); GHSL – Global Human Settlement Layer, European Space Agency.
Marrakesh, the largest city in the affected area, has one of the most densely populated medinas in the country. Medinas are ancient, intricate neighborhoods found at the core of many Moroccan cities.
The city of Marrakesh experienced widespread damage due to the earthquake.
Fadel Senna/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images
While much of southern Morocco, where the earthquake struck, is rural, the cities and towns in the region are often densely populated.
This earthquake is the strongest to hit the area in over a century.
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