Late on Friday night, a rare and powerful earthquake struck Morocco, causing extensive devastation from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. The Moroccan Interior Ministry reported that at least 296 people had tragically lost their lives, with most casualties occurring in Marrakech and five provinces near the earthquake’s epicenter. An additional 153 individuals were hospitalized due to injuries sustained during the seismic event.
Disturbing scenes unfolded as Moroccan television broadcasted images of the aftermath. Many residents opted to stay outdoors, fearing aftershocks. Anxious families congregated in the streets, with some holding children and clutching blankets and personal belongings. Among the debris of one collapsed building, baskets, buckets, and items of clothing could be seen scattered.
Online images shared by locals revealed people running and screaming near the 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, a cherished landmark in the city. Reports indicated that the mosque had suffered damage, though the extent remained uncertain. The mosque’s 69-meter (226-foot) minaret, known as the “roof of Marrakech,” is iconic in the region.
Social media posts displayed sections of the renowned red walls surrounding the old city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which had also sustained damage.
Abderrahim Ait Daoud, the head of a town near the earthquake’s epicenter, conveyed that several homes in nearby towns had partially or completely collapsed. Furthermore, the disruption of electricity and road access in certain areas hampered response efforts. Clearing roads in Al Haouz Province to enable ambulance access and aid distribution was identified as a priority, though the substantial distances between mountain villages posed challenges in assessing the full extent of the damage.
Reports from local media indicated that roads leading to the mountainous region surrounding the epicenter were congested with vehicles and blocked by fallen rocks, impeding rescue operations.
Messages of support poured in from around the world. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed condolences on social media, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently hosting the Group of 20 summit, offered assistance to Morocco during this challenging period. The United Nations also conveyed readiness to assist the Moroccan government in aiding affected populations.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake initially had a magnitude of 6.8, striking at 11:11 p.m. GMT, with shaking lasting several seconds. The USGS noted a magnitude-4.9 aftershock occurring 19 minutes later. The epicenter was situated near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, approximately 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech. While the USGS reported a depth of 18 kilometers (11 miles) below the Earth’s surface, Morocco’s seismic agency estimated it at 11 kilometers (7 miles) deep, with shallow earthquakes generally being more destructive.
Notably, earthquakes are infrequent in North Africa. Lahcen Mhanni, Head of the Seismic Monitoring and Warning Department at the National Institute of Geophysics, characterized this earthquake as the most potent ever recorded in the mountainous region. In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Agadir resulted in significant casualties and led to revisions in Morocco’s construction regulations. However, many structures, particularly rural homes, are not designed to withstand such seismic events. In 2004, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near Al Hoceima claimed over 600 lives.
Friday’s earthquake had a far-reaching impact, with reports indicating that it was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, according to the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency, which oversees emergency response efforts.
