A devastating earthquake in Morocco last night killed at least 2.012 people and injured 2.059, according to data from the Interior Ministry. Rescuers are currently searching for possible survivors in the rubble, and the death toll is expected to rise once they reach remote areas hit by the quake.
Of the 1.404 injured, many are in critical condition and are in danger of dying. Many people spent the night on the streets for fear of further tremors. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that more than 300.000 people were affected by the strong tremors across the country.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7 on the Richter scale, had its epicenter 72 kilometers southeast of Marrakesh, at a depth of 10 kilometers. According to local media, it is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in the country, which has declared three days of national mourning.
At the moment, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has assured that there are no Italian citizens involved in the disaster, despite there being about 500 Italians in the affected area. The situation is constantly monitored by the Farnesina.
The walls of the Medina, the old city, collapsed and people were forced to flee into the streets as buildings collapsed behind them. A piece of a minaret fell into Marrakesh's famous Jemaa el-Fna square, injuring two people. The earthquake caused significant damage in several cities.
In addition to Marrakesh, the earthquake was also felt in Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira, causing panic among the population. Morocco has declared three days of national mourning, during which the flag will be at half-mast, as communicated by the royal court. The Moroccan armed forces are sending rescue teams to provide drinking water, food, tents and blankets to the affected areas.
Local television showed images of debris and broken pipes crushing cars and blocking roads in Marrakesh. Residents poured into the streets after the earthquake, which struck at 23:11 p.m. on Friday. State television showed people wrapped in blankets sleeping in the streets, fearing further tremors.
In a statement, Morocco's Interior Minister sought to reassure the population, saying that authorities were mobilizing all necessary human and logistical resources to provide immediate relief, including search and rescue teams.
In addition, the Moroccan army announced that King Mohammed VI authorized the intervention and supervision of the armed forces to provide support. “We have deployed rapid response units, aircraft, helicopters, drones and technical and logistics centers to provide the necessary support to the affected areas and homes,” it said in a statement.
Article published on 10 September 2023 - 09:15
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