A powerful earthquake of about 7 magnitude struck Morocco’s High Atlas Mountains late on Friday night, killing at least 296 people and destroying numerous structures.
An initial report from the Interior Ministry stated that 153 people were hurt in addition to the fatalities.
Many of the victims were found in difficult-to-access, remote mountainous areas. Marrakech, a well-known city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, was hardest hit by the earthquake.
A historic mosque’s minaret was among the structures that collapsed, crushing cars below. The disaster claimed five members of just one family, according to the pan-Arab al-Arabiya news channel.
According to the Interior Ministry’s televised update, the affected provinces are Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant.
A local from Asni village, which is close to the epicentre of the earthquake, named Montasir Itri, described the destruction in his community. “Most of the houses here are damaged,” he said. Everyone is doing their best to assist with whatever tools they have because we have neighbours trapped under the rubble.
Residents reported aftershocks in the aftermath. A teacher from Taroudant named Hamid Afkar recalled, “The earthquake lasted for about 20 seconds. As I hurried downstairs, doors were opening and closing on their own.
The US Geological Survey recorded a magnitude of 6.8, while Morocco’s geophysical centre assigned it a magnitude of 7.2.
Since a previous earthquake that caused over 600 fatalities in 2004 in Morocco, this one has been the most destructive.
43-year-old Marrakech resident Houda Hafsi described her experience: “The chandelier fell, and I ran. I’m still outside with my kids because we’re scared. Dalila Fahem, a different resident, added that she had noticed damage to her furniture and wall cracks.
People fled their homes out of fear of further tremors as far away as Imsouane, 180 kilometres west, and Rabat, 350 kilometres north of the epicentre.
Videos that were posted to social media during the earthquake’s aftermath They displayed locals hurrying from restaurants, shopping malls, and apartments to gather outside.
