A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night, resulting in devastating loss of life and significant damage. It marked the strongest tremor in this part of the North African nation in over a century, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake occurred in Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range, shortly after 11 p.m. local time, at a relatively shallow depth of 18.5 kilometers (11.4 miles). The epicentre was located approximately 72 kilometres (44.7 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city with a population of around 840,000 and a popular tourist destination.
Tragically, the earthquake claimed the lives of at least 632 people, with an additional 329 individuals sustaining injuries, including 51 in critical condition, as reported by Morocco’s state-run TV Al Aoula, citing the Interior Ministry.
In the wake of the disaster, many residents spent the night outdoors in various cities due to the fear of aftershocks. Simultaneously, rescue operations were launched to locate individuals trapped amidst the debris, and health authorities appealed for blood donations to assist the victims.
The majority of casualties occurred in remote mountainous areas near the epicenter, posing challenges for rescue teams attempting to access these hard-to-reach locations due to damaged roads. The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces issued advisories urging residents to remain vigilant regarding potential aftershocks.
USGS data indicates that earthquakes of this magnitude are unusual but not entirely unexpected in the region. Prior to this event, the area had not experienced an earthquake of magnitude 6 or larger within 500 kilometers of the epicenter since 1900, with only nine earthquakes of magnitude 5 or larger in that time frame.
Images from Al-Aoula television showed multiple buildings collapsed near the epicenter, prompting thousands of people to evacuate their homes after the National Institute of Geophysics in Morocco warned of possible aftershocks.
This tragic event has had a profound impact on the region, and ongoing rescue and relief efforts are underway to assist those affected by the earthquake.
