A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 600 people and injuring hundreds more. The quake, which was felt across the country and in neighboring Algeria and Spain, caused widespread damage to buildings and infrastructure, especially in the historic city of Marrakech and the surrounding provinces.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry said Saturday morning that at least 632 people had died, mostly in Marrakech and five provinces near the quake’s epicenter. Another 329 people were injured. Casualty figures were expected to rise more as the search continues and as rescuers reach remote areas.
The quake was the strongest to hit Morocco since 1960, when a 5.7-magnitude tremor killed about 12,000 people in the city of Agadir.
Marrakech’s heritage sites suffer damage
Marrakech, one of Morocco’s most popular tourist destinations and a UNESCO World Heritage site, was among the hardest-hit areas by the quake. Several historic buildings and monuments in the city suffered damage, including the 12th century Koutoubia Mosque, one of the city’s most famed landmarks. Its 69-meter (226-foot) minaret, known as the “roof of Marrakech”, was cracked and tilted by the quake.
Moroccans also posted videos showing damage to parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city, as well as to other mosques, palaces, gardens, and markets. Some residents said they feared for the future of their cultural heritage.
“I’m heartbroken to see the damage to our beautiful city,” said Fatima Zahra, a shopkeeper in the Medina, the old quarter of Marrakech. “This is our history, our identity, our pride. I hope we can restore it soon.”
Rescue efforts hampered by blocked roads and aftershocks
The Moroccan government declared a state of emergency and mobilized all available resources to assist the affected areas. King Mohammed VI visited some of the worst-hit regions on Saturday and expressed his condolences to the victims and their families.
However, rescue efforts were hampered by blocked roads, power outages, and communication disruptions in some places. Local media reported that roads leading to the mountain region around the epicenter were jammed with vehicles and blocked with collapsed rocks, slowing down the arrival of ambulances and aid workers.
The quake also triggered several aftershocks, some as strong as 5.0 magnitude, which added to the panic and fear among the population. Many people stayed outside their homes or in makeshift shelters, fearing more collapses or tremors.
International support and solidarity
Messages of support and solidarity began to roll in from around the world on Saturday. Several countries and organizations offered their assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted condolences on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, currently hosting the Group of 20 summit of the world’s largest economies, wrote that “India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”
The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also expressed his sympathy and said that the UN was ready to provide humanitarian support if requested by the Moroccan authorities.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the EU was “closely following” the situation and that it stood “in full solidarity” with Morocco.