Over a thousand people were killed and hundreds of people were injured when a powerful earthquake occurred close to Marrakech,
a historic city in Morocco.
On Friday night, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake not only devastated villages in the Atlas Mountains but also wreaked havoc on the historic sites of Marrakech.
Footage shared online from the quake-affected region captures people in a state of shock and anxiety as they seek refuge in the dimly lit and dusty streets
In Marrakech, hotel manager Mourad Loksani told NPR’s Scott Simon that when the earthquake struck, he was in his apartment with his children.
He said he heard a noise that was “not normal.” He felt the apartment shaking. “My kids were crying. … Luckily, we got out of the house and we went downstairs, and we saw everyone had left their homes and we stood outside. … Everyone had gone outside.”
Rescue teams have tirelessly worked through the night, yet numerous impassable roads pose challenges in reaching injured and stranded individuals in remote towns and villages. There have also reportedly been widespread power disruptions in a number of locations.
The government has sent aid-filled trucks to reach affected areas – blankets, food, field hospitals, and much more.
In Marrakech, ambulances hurried through the city streets, transporting the injured to overcrowded hospitals.
With many stone buildings and constructions that were not built to resist an earthquake of this size, this historic city’s beginnings date back to the 11th century. The famous 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque could be severely damaged. In videos posted online, the mosque’s 226-foot tall minaret is seen shaking, with dust rising from the top. The famous red walls that surround the old city – a UNESCO World Heritage site – have also reportedly collapsed in some places.
Marrakech draws tourists from around the globe. After the earthquake, some tourists joined Moroccans in long lines at Marrakech hospitals, and some offered to donate blood to help the injured.
President Biden expressed his deep sadness at the earthquake-related deaths in Morocco in a statement. He said, “We are working quickly to ensure that American citizens in Morocco are safe and stand ready to provide any necessary assistance to the people of Morocco.”
France and Germany, both home to a significant number of Moroccan citizens, are among several countries that have offered assistance.
This earthquake in the Atlas Mountains region is reportedly the fastest earthquake recorded so far. However, Morocco has a history of earthquakes. In 1960, a coastal city near Agadir was hit by an earthquake that claimed the lives of 12,000 to 15,000 people.