RABAT: Following the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Morocco’s history, with a magnitude of 6.8, rescuers are currently racing against time to reach people trapped under the debris. The catastrophic quake has tragically killed more than 2,000 people and left entire villages devastated.
The earthquake struck on Friday at 11:11 pm (2211 GMT) in an area of the Atlas mountain range located 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, as reported by the US Geological Survey. This seismic event represents the most powerful earthquake ever recorded within Morocco. Its tremors were also felt in several coastal cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, Essaouira, and Agadir, the latter of which had to undergo complete reconstruction in the 1960s following a devastating tremor.
Marrakesh, a renowned tourist destination celebrated for its sprawling UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site, suffered damage due to the quake. The city’s 12th-century ramparts experienced partial collapse. Concerned that their residences might crumble as well, some residents have spent the past two nights camping on the expansive Jemaa el-Fna square.
Earthquake Destruction in Morocco
The most severe destruction occurred in the remote villages of the High Atlas, situated in the provinces of Al-Haouz and Taroudant. Mud-brick villages like Tafeghaghte and Moulay Brahim, close to the earthquake’s epicenter, were nearly entirely devastated, AFP news agency reported. In Tafeghaghte alone, around 70 individuals from a population of approximately 100 were laid to rest on Saturday.
Official figures from Morocco’s interior ministry indicate that the earthquake has resulted in at least 2,012 fatalities, along with injuries to 2,059 others. Among the injured, 1,404 individuals are in critical condition. The highest number of fatalities occurred in Al-Haouz province, with 1,293, followed by Taroudant, where at least 452 lives were lost. A French national is among the casualties, as confirmed by French authorities.
Efforts are underway to deploy teams equipped with heavy-lifting machinery to the most severely affected regions, including the hard-to-reach mountain villages. Leading the rescue operations are the Moroccan Red Crescent and the army. Caroline Holt of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies emphasized the critical nature of the next 24 to 48 hours in terms of saving lives.
Spain has dispatched 56 rescue workers, along with drilling equipment and four search dogs, in response to an official request from Morocco. Other nations are awaiting invitations to offer assistance. Members of the European Union, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Turkey have expressed solidarity with Morocco and extended offers of aid.
On Saturday, Morocco declared three days of national mourning following a meeting presided over by King Mohammed VI.
