Rare 6.8 Magnitude Quake Strikes, Causing Widespread Devastation in Marrakech-Safi Region
In a devastating turn of events, a rare and powerful earthquake rocked Morocco late on Friday night, resulting in widespread destruction and loss of life. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake has claimed the lives of at least 820 people and left hundreds more injured. The hardest-hit areas are reported to be in remote regions south of Marrakech.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry provided initial casualty figures on Saturday morning, revealing that the majority of the fatalities occurred in Marrakech and the five provinces near the epicenter of the quake. With rescue operations still ongoing and search teams reaching remote areas, these numbers are expected to rise significantly.
Images broadcasted on Moroccan television depict the aftermath of the earthquake, with many individuals remaining outdoors due to fears of aftershocks. Anxious families gathered in the streets or sought refuge on pavements, some clutching their children and personal belongings.
Emergency responders, wearing reflective yellow vests, conducted search and rescue efforts amid the rubble of damaged buildings, with the nighttime landscape illuminated by their efforts. The earthquake caused substantial damage, including a home with a gaping hole and a car nearly buried beneath the debris of a collapsed building. Baskets, buckets, and clothing were visible amidst the scattered stones in the remains of one structure.
Reports indicate that the historic 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, one of the city’s iconic landmarks, suffered damage, although the extent is yet to be fully assessed. The mosque’s 69-meter (226-foot) minaret, known as the “roof of Marrakech,” holds great cultural significance.
Moroccan media also shared videos depicting damage to sections of the famous red walls that encircle the old city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The head of a town near the epicenter revealed that several homes in neighboring towns had partially or completely collapsed, and some areas had experienced disruptions to electricity and road access. Authorities are working to clear roads in Al Haouz Province to facilitate the passage of ambulances and aid to affected populations. However, the vast distances between mountain villages are expected to prolong the assessment of the full extent of the damage.
Local media reported that roads leading to the mountainous region around the epicenter were congested with vehicles and blocked by fallen rocks, impeding rescue efforts. The Al Haouz Province is renowned for its picturesque High Atlas landscapes and Amazigh villages nestled into mountainsides.
Messages of solidarity and support have begun pouring in from around the world. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed condolences on X (formerly Twitter), while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hosting the Group of 20 summit, offered assistance to Morocco during this challenging time. A U.N. spokesperson affirmed the United Nations’ readiness to aid the Moroccan government in assisting affected populations.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the earthquake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it struck at 11:11 p.m. (2211 GMT), with shaking lasting several seconds. An aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9 followed 19 minutes later. The epicenter was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, approximately 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech.
The shallow depth of the earthquake, with the epicenter situated between 7 to 11 miles below the Earth’s surface, contributed to its greater impact and potential for damage.
Earthquakes are infrequent in North Africa, making this event particularly exceptional. Lahcen Mhanni, Head of the Seismic Monitoring and Warning Department at the National Institute of Geophysics, noted that it was the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the mountainous region.
In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Agadir, Morocco, resulted in thousands of casualties and prompted revisions to construction regulations in the country. However, many buildings, particularly rural homes, remain ill-equipped to withstand such seismic activity.
In 2004, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake near the Mediterranean coastal city of Al Hoceima claimed more than 600 lives.
The impact of Friday’s earthquake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, according to respective authorities. Portugal’s Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency reported its effects on their regions, underlining the extent of this seismic event.
