More than 296 dead in a strong earthquake in Morocco

At least 296 people died and another 153 were injured in different Moroccan cities due to tmagnitude 7 earthquake it happened on Friday evening with the epicenter at 60 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakesh.

As reported by the Ministry of Interior of MoroccoNote, as of 2:00 local time (GMT+1), deaths have been reported in provinces and prefectures Al Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

The injured, of varying severity, were transferred to hospital centers, the ministry said, adding that there was also material damage in uninhabited areas.

According to the Ministry of Interior’s announcement, which calls on citizens to remain calm, security and civil protection forces have been mobilized from all affected prefectures and provinces, as well as the necessary funds for intervention and damage assessment.

Moroccans have shared numerous photos and videos on social media showing damaged and collapsed buildings, some with injured or seemingly dead people in the rubble.

The earthquake damaged several buildings in the medina (old town) of Marrakech.

According to a seismic warning bulletin issued by Morocco’s National Institute of Geophysics, a magnitude 7 earthquake shook the northern Moroccan region of Marrakech and occurred at 23:11 local time (00:11 GMT Saturday) 8 kilometers away. .

The epicenter was in the city of Ighil, which is located 63 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakesh.

Neighbors of Marrakech They explained to EFE the fear they felt during the earthquake, which lasted several minutes and left buildings and mosques in the medina (ancient city) damaged.

Khalid, a resident of the medina, indicated that the minaret of the Bab Ailan mosque fell to the ground due to the earthquake, and the entrance to the temple was also damaged.

Another Marrakesh resident explained that after the earthquake, the mythical square of Jmaa El Fnaa was filled with people to protect themselves from possible aftershocks and that the authorities did not allow citizens to walk through the narrow streets of the ancient city.

Witnesses contacted by EFE said the quake was felt in northern cities such as Larache, 550 kilometers from the epicenter, as well as in Casablanca and Rabat, 300 and 370 kilometers away, respectively, where their residents took to the streets to prevent aftershocks.