The earthquake hit the High Atlas Mountains, south of Marrakech. The US Geological Survey says it was a 6.8 magnitude quake at a shallow depth.
Simple buildings in mountain villages near the epicentre may not have survived, and it will take time to determine casualties there. Global leaders have begun to offer support. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tweeted condolences.
Today’s news
A powerful earthquake has rocked the popular tourist city of Marrakesh and other parts of Morocco, leaving buildings destroyed and causing panic. Footage on social media shows a huge cloud of dust rising in the city, which is home to a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Messages of support are starting to come in from around the world, with many leaders offering their condolences. India’s prime minister Narendra Modi and German chancellor Olaf Scholz both posted their condolences on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The quake was measured at 6.8 on the Richter scale, which is considered a strong tremor, although the exact number of deaths has yet to be determined. The earthquake’s epicentre was in the Atlas Mountains, near to Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, and Chichaoua, although tremors were felt as far afield as Portugal. Many of the dead will be in rural areas, where simple houses may not have survived the tremors.
One man from the mountain village of Asni, which was close to the epicentre, said most of his neighbours’ houses had been damaged. He added that people in the village were trying to rescue those trapped under rubble. Other videos on X show buildings collapsing, and people fleeing their homes in alarm. Many buildings in the old city of Marrakesh, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have been reduced to rubble.
The number of victims
Morocco is a country in northwestern Africa that has a long history of religious and cultural diversity. It is a monarchy with an elected parliament, and it has a strong economic presence in both Africa and the Middle East. The government controls the major broadcasting networks, including RTM and 2M, and most people have satellite dishes to access French and pan-Arab channels. The country is known for its ancient medinas, unique monuments, and diverse geography. It is also the location of the oldest continuously operating university in the world, Al-Qarawiyin University in Fez, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The earthquake that hit Morocco had a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale and was recorded as being the strongest quake to hit the region in over a century. The scale measures the strength of a tremor using the amplitude of seismic waves, with each step up the scale corresponding to a 10 times increase in force.
Some buildings collapsed in the city of Marrakech, Reuters reported. The shaking was felt as far away as Rabat, the capital. There are reports that the quake was followed by several aftershocks.
There are fears that the earthquake may have caused a number of casualties in mountain villages outside the cities, where there is limited access to communications. The number of victims has not yet been confirmed, but rescue efforts are underway.
Global leaders have begun to offer support for Morocco, and the UN is in contact with Moroccan authorities. Many countries are offering assistance, including India, Germany, and France. The US has also offered to help with recovery and reconstruction.
Morocco’s land has been inhabited since the Paleolithic era, and throughout the centuries, powerful dynasties have reigned. The kingdom achieved independence from France and Spain in 1956.
Its land is rich in minerals, especially phosphate and gypsum, which are used in the manufacture of fertilizers and building materials. The country is also a popular tourist destination for its beautiful beaches and vibrant culture. Its cuisine is a blend of French and Arab influences, and its most famous dish is tagine, a stew made from meat and vegetables in a spicy sauce. The traditional drink is mint tea, called atai, which is served with meals and throughout the day.
Damages
The magnitude 7.2 earthquake in Morocco was the strongest to hit the country in more than a century. Its depth was about 11 miles. The epicentre was near Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort in the Atlas Mountains. The quake was also close to Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa and about 50 miles from Marrakesh. The United Nations said it stood ready to help the Moroccan government in its efforts to assist the impacted population.
The tremor caused buildings to collapse in the cities of Marrakech and Tangier, reports say. Several people were trapped in their homes. Videos posted online showed buildings reduced to rubble and the famous red walls of the old city in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, damaged.
In Marrakech, a frightened population spilled into the streets as they fled restaurants and shops. Building facades collapsed and large cracks were seen in one section of the medieval city’s walls. Some residents reported a lack of power and internet connectivity was disrupted.
Locals tried to free trapped victims using their hands, but many were left behind in the rubble. Rescue workers are trying to reach mountain villages and other smaller settlements outside the cities but it will take time, reports say. The strong quake could have destroyed simple dwellings in those areas, and it is not yet clear how many people may have been killed or injured.
The USGS PAGER system, which provides preliminary assessments on economic losses, put the earthquake on a red alert, meaning extensive damage is likely and a response is required at the national or international level. This has been the case for past events on this scale, which have usually required a massive relief effort.
The earthquake shook the capital Rabat and other major cities such as Casablanca, Fes and Essaouira. It was also felt as far south as Taza and Taounate. The last serious earthquake in Morocco was a 5.8-magnitude event that killed about 12,000 people in 1960. Since then, more than 150 quakes of magnitude 7.0 or above have hit the country.
Rescue efforts
The tragedy in Morocco has triggered a global response. The United Nations has pledged $10 million and a number of countries have extended their assistance. However, the immediate focus is on rescue operations and providing help to those who have been injured.
A powerful earthquake rocked Morocco’s Atlas Mountain region Friday night, leaving hundreds dead and destroying thousands of buildings. The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale and was the largest to hit the country in more than 120 years. It was also the biggest in the area since the 1980 el-Asnam earthquake in neighbouring Algeria that killed 2,500 people and left 300,000 homeless.
Witnesses in the capital city of Rabat described how they were caught off guard by the massive tremor. Many ran out into the streets, in fear that their homes could collapse.
The capital city’s main train station was badly damaged in the quake. Footage shared on social media shows the city’s old medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, in chaos as people flee for their lives. The city’s famed red walls were damaged in the quake, and some have partially collapsed.
Those who were at home when the quake struck felt the shaking for several seconds. The epicentre was near the mountain village of Asni, which is close to Marrakech. A teacher in the town of Taroudant, some 350km west of the epicentre, said the ground shook for 20 seconds and doors opened and shut by themselves as he ran downstairs from the second floor of his home.
As the aftershocks continued, people were seen running out of their homes and onto the streets in a panic. In the ancient medina of Marrakech, which is a popular tourist destination, some houses were completely destroyed and many others sustained damage. The ruins of some mosques were also destroyed.
Most of the people killed in the quake are likely to be in rural areas, a statement from the interior ministry said on state TV. The death toll is expected to rise further, because many of the buildings in those areas are not strong enough to withstand earthquakes.
