The epicenter of the tremors occurred near the city of Marrakech.
Photo: REUTERS
In Morocco, after the powerful earthquake that occurred on the afternoon of September 8, rescue efforts and search for victims continue.
Earthquake in Morocco: number of victims, consequences
The epicenter of the tremors occurred near the city of Marrakech. Its strength reached 6.8 points and it is the strongest earthquake that occurred in Morocco during the last century.
– Earthquakes of this magnitude in this region are rare, but at the same time they are not unexpected. Since 1900, no earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater have occurred within a 500 km radius of Marrakech. Nine earthquakes of magnitude 5 or less were recorded during this period, seismologists reported.
In 2004, Morocco also suffered a strong earthquake, the epicenter of which was near the city of Al Hoceima. Then more than 600 people died.
At least 1 million people live in the Marrakech area, a popular tourist destination. According to the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, on the morning of September 9 the death toll from the earthquake rose to 632 people and 329 were injured.
The search for victims continues.
Earthquake in Morocco: what was destroyed
Many Moroccans spent the night in the streets for fear of new aftershocks. The rescue services immediately began work. However, they are having difficulties because the earthquake zone includes settlements located in the mountains, access to which is now difficult due to destroyed roads. These cities and towns suffered the most from the catastrophe, among other things because the buildings in them were built a long time ago and without taking into account the possible seismological activity of the region.
The authorities called on the population to closely follow the seismologists’ reports, since repeated ground vibrations cannot be ruled out; Hospitals are asking for blood donations to help those affected.
In Marrakech itself, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the destruction was mainly recorded in the so-called. Old Town. Rescuers worked all night to rescue people from the rubble and the historic Al-Kutubiya Mosque was on the brink of destruction.
The city with a thousand-year history is densely populated with medieval palaces, mosques and markets. And the Old City is surrounded by red walls made of red sandstone, which is why Marrakech is often called the Red City.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, up to 3 million tourists from around the world came to Marrakech each year. It is one of the four largest cities in Morocco and is an important economic center of the kingdom.
