2023-09-09 08:53:04
At least 820 people died and hundreds were injured after a strong earthquake that hit central Morocco on Friday (8). The epicenter of the tremor was recorded near the tourist city of Marrakech, the Interior Ministry said. The number of victims is still provisional.
Published on: 09/09/2023 – 08:53
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The earthquake caused deaths mainly in the provinces and municipalities of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, Taroudant and Marrakech.
Videos posted on social media and reports from survivors describe damage in the tourist city of Marrakech, with scenes of panic and residents fleeing their homes to seek safety outdoors. A minaret collapsed in the famous Jamaa el Fna square, the heart of the city, causing two injuries.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and occurred at a depth of 18.5 km, with an epicenter 71 km southwest of Marrakech. The tremor was also felt in coastal cities such as the capital Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.
The tremor was recorded at 11pm local time. “We felt a very strong jolt, I realized it was an earthquake. I saw the buildings moving. We don’t have reflexes for this type of situation. Then I went out and there were a lot of people outside,” said Abdelhak el Amrani, a resident of Marrakech , in an interview with AFP by telephone. “People were in shock and panic. Children were crying, parents were helpless,” said Amrani, who reported a power outage and telephone connection for about 10 minutes.
Earthquake-prone region
The earthquake was also felt in several western provinces of neighboring Algeria, but the Algerian civil defense department ruled out damage or casualties.
Moroccan media outlets report that this is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the North African kingdom.
Morocco is located in a region prone to earthquakes due to its position between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. In 2004, at least 628 people died and 926 were injured when an earthquake struck Al Hoceima, in the northeast of the country.
In 1980, the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in El Asnam, neighboring Algeria, was one of the most destructive earthquakes in contemporary history. It left 2,500 people dead and at least 300,000 people homeless.
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