A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 2,000 people and flattening buildings in cities and villages.
At least 2,059 people have been injured in the strongest-ever quake to hit the North African country. Severely wounded people were evacuated from demolished residences, some on stretchers and others swathed in rugs, as the pleas for assistance intensified with each passing moment.
The epicenter of the earthquake was around 50km away from Marrakech, in the rural, mountainous Al Haouz region. The highest number of 1,293 deaths were reported in Al Haouz province followed by another 452 deaths in Taroudant province.
Rescuers were busy digging through rubble in mountainous areas of Morocco on Saturday to find survivors after the deadly earthquake.
This is the country’s strongest quake in more than a century, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry.
Morocco will observe three days of mourning following the quake, the Royal Palace said. Flags will be flown at half-staff on all public buildings.
The Moroccan armed forces deployed rescue teams to provide affected areas with clean drinking water, food, tents and blankets,.
Residents spend night in the streets
Many fortunate earthquake survivors remained in the streets until dawn, setting up makeshift beds amid the wreckage due to destroyed homes and rumors of stronger aftershocks. By morning, some were still there, and the city’s parks, plazas, and parking lots had become improvised, somber campsites.
Others chose to depart. Families, packed into small cars, hopped on motorcycles, or even resorted to horse-drawn carriages. Those who could afford it left for Morocco’s coastal cities like Rabat or Casablanca, while others simply sought refuge beyond the city’s boundaries, anywhere they could find solace.
Hamid Idsalah, a 72-year-old mountain guide, said he and many others remained alive but lack the financial means to rebound. “I can’t reconstruct my home. I don’t know what I’ll do. Still, I’m alive, so I’ll wait,” he said as he walked through the desert oasis town overlooking red rock hills, packs of goats and a glistening salt lake. “I feel heartsick.”
Historic Marrakech city damaged
In historic Marrakech, people were seen in the streets as they were too afraid to go back inside buildings that might still be unstable.
Many departed, leaving behind a historic city in severe disrepair. Marrakech’s cherished Medina and city walls, beloved by tourists, suffered extensive damage, as their ancient foundations proved unable to withstand the intense tremors.
The city’s famous Koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century, was reportedly damaged. Its 69-meter (226-foot) minaret is known as the “roof of Marrakech.” The extent of the damage is not yet fully known, as the search for survivors in the Unesco world heritage site continued on September 10, 2023.
Countries offer assistance
Neighbouring Algeria, which has had rocky relations with Morocco, opened its airspace, to send flights carrying humanitarian aid for the quake victims.
Austria said that it is making all arrangements to provide support as soon as request arises. “Austria will assist Morocco with its disaster relief unit at any time where help is needed in the affected areas,” Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer said on X. “We stand by the people of Morocco in this difficult situation.”
Several countries, including France, Spain, Italy and the United States, also offered aid.
World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that the organization stand ready to support the immediate health needs.” WHO’s regional office for Eastern Mediterranean said that the earthquake affected more than 300,000 people in Marrakesh and surrounding areas.
Jagan Chapagain, the secretary general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), said teams from the Moroccan Red Crescent responded immediately after the earthquake.
Condolences
French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his condolences, saying: “We are all devastated after the terrible earthquake in Morocco. France stands ready to help with first aid.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that in these “difficult hours, our thoughts are with the victims of the devastating earthquake. Our sympathy goes to all those affected by this natural disaster.”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also voiced solidarity with the Moroccan people, saying “Spain is with the victims of this tragedy and their families.”
“My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible earthquake in Morocco last night,” UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said, stressing that his country “stands ready to support our Moroccan friends.”