A devastating earthquake rocked Morocco this past Saturday, resulting in the tragic loss of 632 lives and injuring 329, according to Moroccan television. The country’s health institutions are rallying to cope with the catastrophe, and calls for blood donations have been made in response to the urgent needs of the victims.
Local media has described the earthquake as the most powerful to hit the kingdom in recent history. An official statement released on Saturday morning noted that “As of 7 am, there were 632 recorded fatalities and 329 injuries, among them 51 severe cases.” The epicenter of the earthquake was pinpointed in the Al-Haouz region, southwest of the city of Marrakech.
Nasser Jabour, head of a department at Morocco’s National Institute for Geophysics, commented on the severity of the quake, saying, “This is the first time in a century that such a violent earthquake has been recorded in Morocco.” The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, based in Rabat, reported that the earthquake measured a staggering 7 on the Richter scale and confirmed its epicenter in the Al-Haouz region.
Reporters from “Al Arabiya” and “Al Hadath” conveyed that villages in the mountainous regions southwest of Marrakech are still isolated and challenging to reach. Residents of Marrakech, which is among the cities closest to the earthquake’s epicenter, shared that several buildings in the historic city had collapsed, including parts of the ancient city wall listed under UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites. Local television broadcasted heart-wrenching images of a historical mosque’s minaret toppled over, with debris spread across wrecked vehicles.
Earlier on Saturday morning, the ministry had initially reported that the quake resulted in 296 deaths across various provinces and districts, including Al-Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant. The statement further noted that “153 individuals sustained injuries and were transferred to hospitals.” The official statement identified the earthquake’s core at “Ighil” in the Al-Haouz region, south of Morocco, emphasizing that all resources and means are being mobilized for rescue and relief operations.
This disaster reminds us of the ever-present need for preparedness and swift response mechanisms. Our thoughts are with the people of Morocco during these trying times.
