A 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountains region in Morocco late yesterday, Friday, killing hundreds, destroying a number of buildings, and prompting residents of major cities to flee their homes in a state of panic, while the Moroccan National Institute of Geophysics confirmed that this is the first time It has been a century since the Center recorded such a violent earthquake in Morocco.
Official authorities reported that at least 820 people were killed and hundreds more were injured in the earthquake that struck Morocco late on Friday.
The Ministry of Interior confirmed that this number represents a preliminary death toll. While an official in the region indicated that most of the deaths occurred in mountainous areas that are difficult to access.
Residents in Marrakesh, the closest major city to the epicenter of the earthquake, said that some buildings collapsed in the old city, which is listed on the list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and local television showed pictures of the collapse of the minaret of a mosque and the scattering of rubble on smashed cars.
Media reported, citing unidentified local sources, that five people from one family died as a result of the earthquake.
Montaser Etri, a resident of the mountainous village of Asna near the epicenter of the earthquake, said that most of the houses there were damaged. He added, “Our neighbors are under the rubble and the people are working hard to save them using the means available in the village.”
To the west, near Taroudant, teacher Hamid Afkar said he fled his home and that aftershocks followed the quake.
“The ground shook for about 20 seconds,” he added. The doors opened and closed on their own when I went down from the second floor to the basement.”
The National Institute of Geophysics in Morocco said that the earthquake occurred in the Ighil region in the High Atlas Mountains, with a magnitude of 7.2. The US Geological Survey estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 6.8 and said it occurred at a depth of 18.5 kilometers.
The mountainous Ighil region, which includes small agricultural villages, is located about 70 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh. The earthquake occurred after 11 pm local time (22:00 GMT).
The earthquake struck several cities, such as the capital, Rabat, Casablanca (the country's largest cities), Meknes, and Fez (north).
Video clips broadcast on social media platforms showed that hundreds of citizens took to the streets.
Marrakesh damage
In Marrakesh, some houses collapsed in the crowded old city and people were working hard to clear the rubble while waiting for heavy equipment to arrive, a resident said.
Footage of the city wall, which dates back to the Middle Ages, showed large cracks in one of its sections, parts of it falling, and debris scattered in the street.
Local websites published a number of video clips, which were broadcast on social media platforms, showing the collapse of residential buildings due to the earthquake.
Ibrahim Himi, a resident of Marrakesh, said he saw ambulances leaving the old city and that many building facades were damaged. He added that fear gripped many people who remained outside in anticipation of another earthquake.
Hoda Hafsi, 43 years old, in Marrakesh, said, “The chandelier fell from the ceiling, forcing her to run into the street.” “I am still on the road with my children and we are afraid.”
Another woman, Dalila Fahim, said that there were cracks in her house and damage to the furniture. She added, “Fortunately, I had not slept yet, and I felt the shock and ran away when the house’s belongings started to fall.”
Reuters witnesses reported that people in Rabat, about 350 kilometers north of Ighil, and in the coastal town of Imsouane, about 180 kilometers to the west, also fled their homes for fear of a stronger earthquake.
Some video clips on social media showed the collapse of at least one building and rubble in the streets. Other video clips showed people running out of a shopping centre, restaurants and residential buildings and gathering outside.
Moroccan official : The earthquake is the most violent in a century
For his part, a Moroccan official announced that the earthquake that struck the country on Friday/Saturday night was “the most violent in a century.”
Nasser Jabour, head of a department at the National Institute of Geophysics (governmental), explained to the official Moroccan Agency that “this is the first time in a century that the center has recorded a violent earthquake of this type in Morocco.”
He pointed out that the aftershocks that followed the earthquake that struck the Al Haouz area on Friday evening are less powerful and citizens may not feel them.
Gabor confirmed that the earthquake, whose epicenter was located in the village of Ighil (belonging to the city of Marrakesh), was felt in many cities within a radius of 400 km.
He pointed out that “the main tremor was followed by hundreds of aftershocks, the strongest of which reached about 6 degrees,” considering that “aftershocks are generally less powerful than the main tremor.”
For its part, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior confirmed that the Royal Armed Forces (Army) are harnessing all means and capabilities to provide the necessary assistance and assess the damage of the earthquake, which struck several cities on Friday evening.
The Ministry explained in a statement carried by the official news agency, “The security and civil protection services in all concerned provinces and regions continue to harness all means and capabilities in order to intervene, provide the necessary assistance, and assess the damage.”
Morocco earthquake: A harsh night after the disaster Citizens sleeping in the open and calls for relief
Rabat: The earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday evening broke the kingdom's calm and turned its night into a tragedy after deaths and injuries rose to hundreds.
An “unwanted visitor” made citizens flee their homes and spend the night in the street, while others continued to issue distress calls and count their losses. The picture turned darker after several souls ascended to heaven in a matter of seconds.
On Friday evening, Morocco was struck by an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale, resulting in “the death of 632 people and the injury of 329 others, in addition to the collapse of a number of buildings,” according to preliminary estimates announced by the Ministry of the Interior on Saturday morning.
The first moments of the earthquake were monitored and how citizens dealt with the event that changed their lives in an unthinkable way.
Calm before the earthquake
Calm prevailed during the night of September 8, before the ground shook at about 23:10 (22:10 GMT), so people went out completely into the streets, carrying their mobile phones to find out the news that began to indicate at that time. A major earthquake occurred in the center and north of the country, reaching 7 degrees on the Richter scale.
Nasser Jabour, head of a department at the National Institute of Geophysics (governmental), told the official Moroccan News Agency that it is “the first time in a century that the center has recorded a violent earthquake of this type in Morocco.”
The earthquake, whose epicenter was in the Al Haouz region (north), reached several Moroccan cities, such as the capital, Rabat, Casablanca (the largest cities in the country), Meknes, Fez, and Marrakesh (north), and Agadir and Taroudant (centre), according to the National Institute of Geophysics.
Official statements and social interaction
After the earthquake occurred, citizens contacted their families to check on them, especially after international monitoring centers indicated that its magnitude was large. The first official statement was issued an hour after its occurrence by the National Institute of Geophysics.
With the official media, video clips spread on social media platforms calling for help and indicating that many citizens need rescue because they are under the rubble.
After the interaction of social media platforms increased, the local media began talking about dozens of victims, including dead and injured, after which a statement was issued by the Ministry of Interior at around 2 am (local time) announcing a preliminary toll of victims and losses of the earthquake.
Citizens sleeping in the open and people asking for relief
The people of some villages in Morocco have called on the authorities to provide relief as a result of the collapse of buildings following the earthquake.
This came according to video clips posted on social media platforms on Saturday.
Among these villages were Moulay Ibrahim, Ijoukan, and Thibaa Niaqoub, belonging to the city of Asni (north).
Aziz Aishi said that he felt the earthquake while he was watching television, especially after the windows started moving violently.
Aichi, who lives in Rabat, added that he felt fear, which made him leave the house.
He noted that he found many people taking to the streets in turn.
He pointed out that the duration of the earthquake lasted a long time.
Noura Ibrahimi expressed her fear, because her people are located in the city of Agadir (central).
A resident of the Taroudant province said: “We confirmed the death of a woman from the family who was over 40 years old.”
The spokesman, who preferred to remain anonymous, added: “The victim lived in a mud house, in Takadirt roundabout, in the Uzioua suburb of Taroudant Governorate (south).”
Adel Ait Haddou, regional delegate for health and social protection in Azilal (government), told Channel 2 (official) that “nine people died tonight after their homes collapsed in the Itmilil region, due to the strength of the earthquake that struck the region.”
According to the official, the victims come from Douar Tofghin, Douar Sharaa, and Douar Ait Hamzoua.
Counting the losses continues
. According to reports, citizens are still counting their losses and the lives of their relatives, as the losses included to a greater extent the villages adjacent to the epicenter of the earthquake in the Al Haouz region.
From the first moments of the earthquake, social media users shared pictures and video clips of multiple collapses that included several buildings, and officials asked for blood donations to help the injured arriving at hospitals.
The Ministry of the Interior stated, on Saturday, that the Royal Armed Forces (Army) are harnessing all means and capabilities to provide the necessary assistance and assess the damage of the earthquake, which struck several cities yesterday evening, Friday.
The Ministry explained in a statement carried by the official news agency, “The security and civil protection services in the various prefectures and regions concerned continue to harness all means and capabilities in order to intervene, provide the necessary assistance, and assess the damage.”
Algeria is closely following the repercussions of the Moroccan earthquake and decided to open its airspace and offer condolences to the Moroccan people
Algeria : Algeria expressed, on Saturday, its “sincere condolences to the brotherly Moroccan people” against the backdrop of the earthquake that struck the country yesterday evening, Friday, leaving hundreds dead and wounded.
The Algerian Foreign Ministry said, in a press statement today: “Algeria expresses its sincere condolences and is closely following with great sorrow and sorrow the repercussions of the violent earthquake that struck several regions in the Kingdom of Morocco.”
She added: “Algeria extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and to the brotherly Moroccan people, with sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.”
Algeria has decided to open its airspace with Morocco to transport humanitarian aid and the wounded. The Algerian presidency said today, Saturday, that the country’s highest authorities have decided to open its airspace with Morocco to flights to transport humanitarian aid and the wounded and injured, against the backdrop of the violent earthquake that struck areas in the Kingdom. Leaving hundreds dead and wounded.
Algeria severed its diplomatic relations with Morocco on August 24, 2021, due to what it called “hostile actions by Rabat against it.” A month later, it announced the closure of its airspace to all Moroccan civilian and military aircraft, as well as those with a Moroccan registration number, accusing the Kingdom of continuing to “ Provocations and hostile practices towards it.
Today, Algerian state television, quoting the Presidency of the Republic, reported that “the Algerian supreme authorities decided to open their airspace to flights to transport humanitarian aid and the wounded and injured, following the violent earthquake that struck areas of the Kingdom of Morocco.”
He stressed that “the higher Algerian authorities have expressed their full readiness to provide humanitarian aid and deploy all material and human capabilities in solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people, in the event of a request from the Kingdom of Morocco.”
Morocco : Arab and international solidarity with Morocco after the devastating earthquake
Countries and international organizations expressed their broad solidarity with the victims of the devastating earthquake in Morocco .
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, announced his “deep sadness” over the earthquake.
A statement issued by Guterres' spokesman on Saturday said that the UN Secretary-General "felt deeply saddened" when he learned of the disaster.
The spokesman added that Guterres “expresses his solidarity with the government and people of Morocco in these difficult times.”
He offered his sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
The Qatari authorities expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people and their leadership in the victims of the earthquake that struck several regions in the Kingdom, leaving hundreds dead and victims, and is considered the most violent in a century.
The Amiri Diwan published a statement revealing that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a message of condolence to his brother, King Mohammed VI, King of the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco, for the victims of the earthquake that struck several Moroccan provinces and cities, wishing a speedy recovery for the injured.
Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad also tweeted on his verified page on the “X” website, expressing his “condolences to King Mohammed VI and to the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Morocco for the victims of the earthquake, praying to God Almighty to cover the victims with His vast mercy, and to grant the injured a speedy recovery. May God protect Morocco and its people from “Everything is hateful.”
The Qatar News Agency also published the condolences of Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani, Deputy Emir of Qatar, to King Mohammed VI regarding the earthquake victims.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, also offered his condolences to the victims of the Moroccan earthquake, which recorded widespread sympathy due to its severity.
The Palestinian Authority announced today, Saturday, that it will send rescue and relief crews to the Kingdom of Morocco following the earthquake.
The official Palestinian News Agency (Wafa) reported that Abbas “instructed Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh to send rescue and relief teams to participate in search and rescue work and to provide all possible assistance to the earthquake victims in Morocco.”
Abbas expressed his condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI and the Moroccan people for the victims of the violent earthquake that struck a number of regions and cities in the Kingdom, leaving hundreds of victims, including deaths and injuries.
On Saturday, Algeria expressed its “sincere condolences” to Morocco for the victims of the earthquake.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement, “Algeria expresses its sincere condolences to the brotherly Moroccan people for the victims of the earthquake.”
She added, “Algeria is following with great sorrow and sadness the repercussions of the violent earthquake that struck several regions in the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The statement offered “sincere condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims and to the brotherly Moroccan people, with sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.”
The Sultan of Oman, Haitham bin Tariq, sent a telegram of condolences and sympathy to the Moroccan King, King Mohammed VI, regarding the victims of the devastating earthquake that struck the Al Haouz province, southwest of the city of Marrakesh.
In the telegram reported by the Oman News Agency on Saturday, Sultan Haitham expressed his condolences and sincere sympathy to the Moroccan king, the people of his country, and the families of the victims, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The Bahraini Ministry of Foreign Affairs also expressed, in a statement, “the Kingdom of Bahrain’s sympathy and solidarity with Morocco for the victims of the devastating earthquake,” offering condolences and sympathy to the government, the people and the families of the victims, and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
In Jordan, the Foreign Ministry expressed, in a statement, “its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the government and people of the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco for the victims of the earthquake,” stressing “solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco in this painful affliction.”
For his part, Libyan Prime Minister Abdelhamid Dabaiba said in a post on “X”: “I offer my condolences to the Moroccan people and my brother, King Mohammed VI, for the victims of the earthquake,” saying: “Our full solidarity is with the families of the victims, and we pray to God Almighty to protect Morocco.”
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, Egypt expressed its sincere condolences to the Kingdom of Morocco for the victims of the devastating earthquake.
Egypt affirmed its “full solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco, the government and people, in the face of the devastating effects of this horrific accident and painful tragedy, and its condolences to the families of the victims among the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Morocco, calling on God Almighty to shower them with His mercy, and wishing a speedy recovery for all those injured.”
Saudi Arabia also announced its support and solidarity with Morocco and its people as a result of the earthquake that struck southwest of Marrakesh, resulting in the death and injury of hundreds of people.
The Saudi News Agency (SPA) stated, “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed its sincere condolences to the government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco, as a result of the series of earthquakes that struck the country, and led to the death and injury of a number of people.”
The Kingdom expressed its support and solidarity with Morocco and its people in this “grievous” affliction, expressing “its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased, and its sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured and security and safety for the Kingdom of Morocco and its people.”
Today, Saturday, Iraqi Prime Minister Muhammad Shiaa Al-Sudani affirmed the solidarity of his country, its government and people, and its support for the Kingdom of Morocco.
In a telegram to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, Al-Sudani announced his readiness to provide all forms of assistance to confront the effects of the devastating earthquake that struck a number of Moroccan cities.
The UAE also expressed its condolences and solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco.
In a statement reported by the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on Saturday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed “its sincere condolences to the Moroccan government and people and to the families and families of the victims of this painful tragedy, and its wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured.”
The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council, Jassim Mohammed Al-Budaiwi, expressed his condolences and sympathy to the government and people of Morocco.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that his country will provide all necessary forms of support to Morocco to help it confront the repercussions resulting from the earthquake.
Netanyahu said, according to a statement issued by his office: “I have issued instructions to all Israeli ministries and forces to provide the necessary aid to the Moroccan people, including planning to send an aid crew to the region,” according to what the Israeli newspaper “Jerusalem Post” reported on its website.
Netanyahu added: “The people of Israel are extending their hand to our friends in Morocco at this difficult time, and we will help in any way we can.”
Israeli Minister Yoav Galant, according to a statement from his office, ordered the Israeli army and the Ministry of Defense to prepare to provide immediate emergency aid through the rescue agencies of the Home Front Command.
Russian President Vladimir Putin offered his condolences on Saturday to the “friendly Moroccan people” after the earthquake that killed 632 people overnight in Morocco, according to a Kremlin statement.
“Russia shares the grief and mourning of the friendly Moroccan people,” Putin said in a message of condolence addressed to Moroccan King Mohammed VI, offering “sincere condolences for the tragic repercussions of the devastating earthquake.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Saturday that his country stands with Morocco with all its capabilities.
Erdogan said in a statement on the “X” platform, “I extend my best wishes for safety to all the Moroccan people affected by the earthquake disaster.”
“On this difficult day, we stand by our Moroccan brothers with all our available capabilities,” he said.
French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna expressed her “solidarity” with Morocco and the “friendly Moroccan people” after the “terrible” earthquake that struck this country on Friday night.
Colonna expressed her sympathy with the victims and their families in a message on the “X” platform.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his sadness on Saturday over the loss of life resulting from the earthquake that struck Morocco, and stressed India's readiness to provide all possible assistance to Morocco at this difficult time.
Modi said on the “X” social networking site, “I felt very sad because of the loss of life resulting from an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my sympathies are with the people of Morocco. My sincere condolences to those who lost their loved ones, and I wish a speedy recovery to those injured. “India is ready to provide all possible assistance to Morocco at this difficult time.”
On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent his condolences to the relatives of the victims of the “devastating” earthquake.
Schulz, a participant in the G20 summit in New Delhi, wrote on the “X” platform (formerly Twitter): “The news coming out of Morocco is horrific, and at this difficult stage we sympathize with the victims of this devastating earthquake, and all the people affected by this natural disaster.”
German aid workers are preparing to provide possible aid to Morocco, following the violent earthquake that struck the kingdom.
A spokesman for the German Federal Technical Relief Agency (THW) said on Saturday morning: “We are monitoring the situation and are currently preparing for a possible mission,” indicating in return that Morocco has not yet submitted a request for assistance.
The request for assistance can be directed to the European Union, or directly to Germany.
Turkish institutions and organizations have prepared teams of 265 individuals to be sent to Morocco in case they need help after the earthquake.
The Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD) said in a statement, on Saturday: “There is a team consisting of 265 individuals from AFAD, the Red Crescent, the National Medical Rescue affiliated with the Ministry of Health, and non-governmental organizations, ready to move to the region, in the event that Morocco launches an international appeal for assistance.”
She added: “We are awaiting a call from the Moroccan authorities to deliver 1,000 tents to the region. We wish safety for the Moroccan people affected by the earthquake, and we are closely following developments.”
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