A deadliest earthquake rocked Morocco late night on Friday causing nothing but destruction with over 1000 people succumbed to the tragedy.
Morocco’s High Atlas mountains were struck by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake whose epicenter was located 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of the popular tourist destination, Marrakesh.
According to the US Geological Survey, the devastating event occurred at precisely 11:11pm local time (10:11pm GMT).
The impact of the earthquake was not limited to the mountainous region; strong tremors were also felt in major coastal cities including Rabat, Casablanca, and Essaouira.
Residents described the terrifying experience as an unprecedented violent tremor that shook buildings, causing widespread panic and chaos.
Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old resident of Marrakesh, recounted his experience, saying, “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 supply and telephone network were disrupted for a brief period, leaving residents in darkness and without communication. Many chose to stay outdoors due to the ongoing aftershocks and the fear of further structural damage.
Faisal Baddour, an engineer, expressed his fear while talking to foreign media, saying, “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.”
Tourist Michael Bizet, who owns traditional riad houses in Marrakesh’s old town, described the chaos and destruction he witnessed. “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 said. He also shared harrowing footage of collapsed walls in the streets.
Social media platforms have been flooded with images and videos depicting the aftermath of the earthquake, including a minaret partially collapsing on Jemaa el-Fna square in the historic city.
Authorities are mobilizing rescue and relief efforts to aid those affected by this devastating natural disaster. The full extent of the damage and casualties is still being assessed, and our thoughts go out to the people of Morocco during this difficult time.
