In a devastating event that unfolded on Friday night, Morocco was shaken by a powerful earthquake, resulting in a provisional death toll of at least 632 people, along with widespread destruction and panic. The earthquake, measuring 6.8 degrees on the Richter scale, had its epicenter situated in the province of Al-Haouz, southwest of the city of Marrakech—a popular destination for tourists.
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The Moroccan Ministry reported, “According to a provisional report, this earthquake caused the death of 296 people in the provinces and municipalities of Al-Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant,” with an additional 392 individuals sustaining injuries requiring hospitalization.
This calamity is regarded as the most powerful earthquake to have ever struck the kingdom, causing extensive damage in several towns. Heart-wrenching images captured a portion of a minaret collapsing onto Marrakech’s iconic Jemaa el-Fna square, resulting in injuries to two individuals.
Terrified by the aftershocks, hundreds of people sought refuge in the square, some sleeping on the ground with blankets, others huddled together. Houda Outassaf, a resident of the affected region, shared her shock and sorrow: “We were walking around Jemaa el-Fna when the earth started to shake, it was a really staggering sensation. At least ten members of my family died in Ijoukak (rural commune of Al-Haouz, editor’s note). I can’t believe it, because no more than two days ago I was with them.”
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The tremors were not confined to Marrakech but also reverberated through Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir, and Essaouira, inciting panic among the population. Social media platforms were flooded with images of debris-laden streets in Marrakech’s Medina and cars crushed by fallen stones. As Morocco grapples with this catastrophe, condolences have poured in from leaders worldwide, expressing sympathy for the victims and their families.