A Rare and Deadly Tremor Hits Marrakech and Surrounding Areas
Late Friday night, Morocco experienced a rare, devastatingand powerful earthquake, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives and widespread damage to structures ranging from remote villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry, in an early Saturday update, reported that at least 296 people had tragically lost their lives, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Marrakech and five provinces near the epicenter of the earthquake. Additionally, 153 individuals were rushed to hospitals due to injuries sustained during the quake.
Images shared online depicted scenes of panic and chaos near the iconic 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, one of the city’s most revered landmarks. Reports from Moroccan media indicated that the mosque had suffered damage, although the extent remained unclear.
Videos circulated on social media displayed sections of the renowned red walls that encircle Marrakech’s ancient city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, showing visible damage.Notably, the mosque’s 69-meter (226-foot) minaret, known as the “roof of Marrakech”.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) initially recorded the earthquake’s magnitude at 6.8 when it struck at 11:11 p.m. (2211 GMT), with the tremors lasting for several seconds. The USGS also noted a magnitude-4.9 aftershock occurring 19 minutes later. The USGS reported the epicenter as being 18 kilometers (11 miles) below the Earth’s surface, Morocco’s seismic agency placed it at a shallower depth of 11 kilometers (7 miles). Shallow earthquakes tend to be more perilous due to their proximity to the surfa.
The epicenter of this destructive tremor was situated near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, approximately 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) to the south of Marrakech. This earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in the mountainous region, underlining the rare and unprecedented nature of the event.
