Sept 9, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
An earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night, killing at least
1,036 people and leaving more than 1,200 injured, according to the country's
interior ministry, with the death toll expected to rise.
The 6.8 magnitude quake struck southwest of Marrakesh around 11 p.m. local time on Friday at a relatively shallow depth of 44 miles. It sent people rushing into the streets in the tourism hub and other cities.
Many victims are said to have been trapped under buildings, and there were
images of people camping out in the open in Marrakesh to escape further
tremors.
There are also reports that buildings had collapsed in the old city of
Marrakesh, whose historic heart is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One unverified
video showed the side of a building collapse as screams and shouting could be
heard. Footage also showed people running through the narrow streets while
sirens could be heard screeching.
"I could see buildings moving. We don't necessarily have the reflexes
for this type of situation," Marrakesh resident Abdelhak El Amrani, told
Agence France-Presse. "I went outside, and there were a lot of people
there. People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying and the
parents were distraught."
French citizen Michael Bizet told AFP, "I thought my bed was going to
fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my
riads (traditional houses)," adding, "it was total chaos."
Morocco's geophysical centre said the quake struck in the Ighil area of the
High Atlas (40 miles) southwest of Marrakesh, and the tremors could be felt as
far away as Portugal and Algeria.
People in the Moroccan capital city, Rabat, 200 miles north of Marrakesh,
and in the coastal town of Imsouane, 170 miles to its west, also fled their
homes, fearing a stronger quake.
The U.S. Geological Survey's PAGER system issued a red alert for economic
losses, which would typically require a national or international level
response, saying there was likely to be extensive damage over widespread area.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was among world leaders to offer
support and condolences, posting on X (formerly Twitter), that he was
"ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult
time."
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on the platform, "our
thoughts are with the victims of the devastating earthquake. Our sympathy goes
to all those affected by this natural disaster."
Newsweek