9-9-2023 (MARRAKESH) A powerful earthquake rattled Morocco on Friday (Sep 8), resulting in the tragic loss of more than 600 lives, as terrified residents were forced to flee their homes in the dead of night.
An updated report from the interior ministry indicated that at least 632 people had perished, with an additional 329 individuals injured, including 51 in critical condition.
Local authorities revealed that the majority of casualties occurred in mountainous areas that were challenging to access.
The earthquake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude, originated in the Ighil area of the High Atlas, approximately 72km southwest of the popular tourist destination, Marrakesh, at around 11:10 pm local time, as reported by the US Geological Survey.
Significant tremors were also felt in coastal cities, including Rabat, Casablanca, and Essaouira.
Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old Marrakesh resident, described the frightening experience, saying, “We felt a very violent tremor, and I realized it was an earthquake. I could see buildings moving. We don’t necessarily have the reflexes for this type of situation. Then I went outside, and there were a lot of people there. People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying, and the parents were distraught.”
“The power went out for 10 minutes, and so did the (telephone) network, but then it came back on,” he added. “Everyone decided to stay outside.”
The earthquake claimed lives across the provinces and municipalities of Al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant, according to a statement from the ministry, citing a preliminary assessment.
UNESCO World Heritage Site Affected In Marrakesh, the nearest major city to the earthquake’s epicentre, residents reported collapsed buildings in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Local television broadcasts showed images of a fallen mosque minaret with debris strewn over damaged cars.
Faisal Baddour, an engineer, recounted feeling the earthquake three times within his building. He stated, “People went out into the street just after this total panic, and there are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake. It was as if a train was passing close to our houses.”
Hundreds of people were observed gathering in the square, opting to spend the night there due to fears of aftershocks. Some had blankets, while others slept on the ground.
Houda Outassaf, a local resident, described the moment when the ground began to shake. “It was a truly staggering sensation. We’re safe and sound, but I’m still in shock,” he said. “I have at least 10 members of my family who died … I can hardly believe it, as I was with them no more than two days ago.”
Frenchman Michael Bizet, a riad owner in Marrakesh’s old town, recounted his experience, saying, “I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was total chaos, a real catastrophe, madness.” He shared videos depicting streets filled with rubble from collapsed walls.
Fayssal Badour, another resident, who was driving when the earthquake struck, recalled the scene. “I stopped and realized what a disaster it was… The screaming and crying was unbearable,” he said.
Authorities Mobilize Resources Morocco’s interior ministry stated that they had “mobilized all the necessary resources to intervene and help the affected areas.”
Brahim Himmi, another Marrakesh resident, reported seeing ambulances emerging from the old town, and numerous building facades were damaged. People remained fearful and chose to remain outside in anticipation of potential further earthquakes.
Houda Hafsi, 43, described her experience, saying, “The chandelier fell from the ceiling, and I ran out. I’m still in the road with my children, and we’re scared.”
Ya Allah..
May allah have mercy on the morocco people
A terrifying #earthquakemorocco
Video captured by a security camera #Maroc. #Morocco #moroccoearthquake #earthquake pic.twitter.com/liUwWwMf3F— Sehjan Hayat. (????????????)???????? (@SehjanHayat) September 9, 2023
Dalila Fahem, another resident, reported cracks in her house and damage to her furniture. “Fortunately, I hadn’t gone to sleep yet,” she said.
Local hospitals in Marrakesh reportedly witnessed a “massive influx” of injured individuals. The regional blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh appealed to residents to donate blood for the injured.
Widespread Impact Residents of Essaouira, located 200km west of Marrakesh, also shared their experiences. “People are in the squares, in the cafes, preferring to sleep outside. Pieces of facades have fallen,” one resident stated.
In Al-Haouz, near the earthquake’s epicentre, reports emerged of a family trapped in the rubble when their house collapsed.
Montasir Itri, a resident of the mountain village of Asni, near the epicentre, revealed that most houses in the area were damaged. He said, “Our neighbours are under the rubble, and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village.”
Further west, near Taroudant, teacher Hamid Afkar recounted his experience. “The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor,” he said.
In Casablanca, individuals who spent the night in the streets were too afraid to return to their homes.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) PAGER system, which assesses the preliminary impact of earthquakes, issued a red alert for economic losses, indicating that extensive damage is likely, and the disaster’s impact is expected to be widespread. Events with this alert level have previously necessitated regional or national-level responses, according to the US government agency.
Marrakesh experienced disruptions in internet connectivity due to power outages, according to the global internet monitoring organization NetBlocks.
This earthquake is reported to be the most powerful one to have struck Morocco to date, as per Moroccan media accounts.
World Leaders Express Condolences German Chancellor Olaf Scholz extended condolences, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sorrow upon learning of the earthquake.
The earthquake’s tremors were also felt in neighbouring Algeria, although the Algerian Civil Defence reported no damage or casualties.
In 2004, a devastating earthquake in northeastern Morocco’s Al Hoceima claimed the lives of at least 628 people and injured 926 others.
The El Asnam earthquake in neighbouring Algeria in 1980, measuring 7.3 in magnitude, was one of the most significant and destructive earthquakes in recent history. It resulted in the deaths of 2,500 people and left over 300,000 individuals homeless.
