The tremors were felt in several large cities, including Rabat and Marrakesh
At least 296 people were killed by the earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday evening, the Interior Ministry said in first its casualty report. It added that 153 people were hospitalized, and that most damage occurred in the countryside.
The tremors were felt in the capital Rabat, as well as other cities, including Marrakesh, Casablanca, Agadir, and Kenitra. Many residents fled their homes and stayed on the streets overnight, helping to clear the rubble.
Videos posted to social media show that multiple buildings were damaged, and some destroyed entirely.
Earthquake Morocco Richter 6.8#marrakech #agadir #casablanca #fes#مراكش #فاس #أغادير #الدار_البيضاء#moroccoearthquake #morocco #earthquakemorocco #earthquake#زلزال_المغرب #هزة_أرضية pic.twitter.com/EXBcv4rw17
— Jalal Ramdani (@jalaloni) September 8, 2023
It’s not looking good at all #Morocco pic.twitter.com/rhKIHzvaL9
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) September 8, 2023
A mosque was reportedly damaged near Jemaa el-Fnaa square in Marrakesh’s Old City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, as well as other historical buildings in the area.
Other videos show residents running in fear after feeling the tremors.
#المغرب #مراكش #الداربيضاء #فاس #Morocco #fes #casablanca #Marrakesh #زلزال #earthquake ❗️❗️❗️🇲🇦 Major magnitude 6.9 earthquake – 75 km southwest of Marrakech, Marrakesh-Safi, Morocco,#fas #deprem#Morocco #earthquake #morocoearthquake #strongearthquake #marrakesh #marrakech pic.twitter.com/CNlzHYXU2P
— DepremCloud7 (@DepremCloud7) September 8, 2023
This is awful #Morocco #Maroc pic.twitter.com/wDmF8RzhoZ
— Volcaholic 🌋 (@volcaholic1) September 8, 2023
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre measured the earthquake at 6.9 magnitude. The United States Geological Survey, meanwhile, reported it as 6.8.
Nacer Jabour, director of the National Institute of Geophysics, told newspaper Le Matin that there was a risk of aftershocks.
English