6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco with at least 2000 fatalities

A powerful earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night, resulting in the tragic loss of over 2,000 lives, with thousands sustaining injuries. The earthquake occurred around 11:11p.m. local time (6:11 p.m. ET) and had its epicenter situated in the High Atlas mountain range, approximately 72km southwest of Marrakech, a city with a population of about 840,000 people. The impact of this seismic event extended as far north as Casablanca, as indicated by the accompanying map.

This earthquake is the most severe to hit the central region of Morocco in over a century. Furthermore, it is the deadliest in Morocco since 1960 when a quake claimed the lives of more than 12,000 people. With a magnitude of 6.8, the current earthquake is classified as "strong" and had a relatively shallow depth, amplifying its destructive potential. While earthquakes of this size are infrequent in the region, the US Geological Survey noted that nine earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 or higher have been recorded since 1900, but none have exceeded a magnitude of 6.

More than 300,000 individuals have been affected in Marrakech and surrounding areas, with significant damage to historical sites. However, the most severely impacted areas are those closest to the Atlas Mountains. Eyewitnesses in the mountain foothills report that some towns have been entirely demolished, with nearly all the homes in the village of Asni sustaining damage. The province of Al Haouz has seen over a thousand fatalities, while the southwestern Moroccan city of Taroudant has lost more than 400 lives. The full extent of the earthquake's impact is still being investigated.

Despite damaged or blocked roads due to debris, emergency personnel have been dispatched to the affected regions. Access to some remote villages has been challenging. However, rescue efforts are ongoing, with individuals hoping for miraculous recoveries from the rubble. In Marrakech, some residents have spent the night outdoors due to fear, while others have fled the city since there are concerns about potential aftershocks.

The Moroccan government has mobilized all available resources to respond to the earthquake and has urged the public to remain calm. King Mohammed VI has ordered the establishment of a relief commission to provide aid to survivors, particularly orphans and those who lost their homes. Moreover, he has declared three days of national mourning and called for mosques across the nation to hold funeral prayers at noon on Sunday.

Numerous world leaders have expressed their condolences and offered support to Morocco. France has activated emergency aid funds, while Turkey has offered personnel and tents for humanitarian assistance. Despite diplomatic tensions, Algeria has reopened its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights to and from Morocco. The United Nations, US President Joe Biden, and the World Bank have all pledged their assistance. Many other world leaders, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, have also conveyed their sympathies.