***BREAKING NEWS***
Powerful Earthquake Strikes Morocco, Leaving Hundreds Dead and Historic Landmarks Damaged
By SAM METZ, Associated Press
September 8, 2023, 7:07 PM ET
RABAT, Morocco — A devastating earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, causing widespread destruction, loss of life, and damage to iconic buildings and historic landmarks in major cities.
According to Morocco’s Interior Ministry, at least 296 people have been reported dead in the provinces near the quake, with an additional 153 injured individuals receiving treatment in hospitals. The ministry noted that the majority of the destruction occurred outside urban areas.
Shocking videos shared by Moroccans on social media depict buildings reduced to rubble and dust, revealing the extent of the devastation. Even parts of the renowned red walls surrounding the old city in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have been damaged. Tourists and locals captured footage of people evacuating restaurants and screaming in panic as the city’s throbbing club music played.
While damage assessment and casualty reports often take time to emerge after earthquakes, some locals chose to spend the night in the streets, fearing aftershocks and further damage to their homes.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 for the earthquake, which struck at 11:11 p.m. local time. The shaking lasted for several seconds. However, Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale. An aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9 was reported by the U.S. agency 19 minutes later.
Variations in early measurements are common, but either reading would classify this earthquake as the strongest in Morocco in recent years. North Africa experiences relatively few seismic events, but a magnitude 5.8 tremor near Agadir in 1960 resulted in thousands of deaths.
The epicenter of Friday’s earthquake was located in the Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech. It was also in close proximity to Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa, and Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort in Morocco.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter was 18 kilometers (11 miles) below the Earth’s surface, while Morocco’s seismic agency estimated it to be 8 kilometers (5 miles) deep.
As of early Saturday, neither Moroccan officials nor MAP, Morocco’s official news agency, have released specific information regarding casualties or the extent of damages caused by the earthquake. Government officials typically utilize MAP as a means to communicate important information to the public.
The tremor was so powerful that its effects were felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, as reported by the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency, responsible for emergency response.
The Moroccan nation mourns the lives lost and remains united in resilience as it faces the arduous task of recovering from this catastrophic event.