More than 2,012 people have perished in a powerful earthquake that struck Morocco on the night of Friday to Saturday, causing massive damage and panic in Marrakech, a prominent tourist destination, and several other cities, according to a new official report.
The death toll continues to rise in Morocco: at least 2,012 people have died in the powerful earthquake that struck the country on the night of Friday to Saturday, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior issued on the night of Saturday, September 9, to Sunday, September 10. The tremor has also resulted in 2,059 injuries, with 1,404 in very serious condition, the Ministry of the Interior stated in a late-night press release on Saturday.
The kingdom has declared three days of national mourning, as announced by the royal cabinet, following a meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI regarding this earthquake, the most powerful to hit the country to date. The International Red Cross has alerted the international community to the importance of aid for Morocco, citing needs for “months, if not years.”
Magnitude 6.8 The seismic tremor, with a magnitude of 6.8, was recorded at 23:11 local time, according to the US Geological Institute (USGS). The Moroccan Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) measured the earthquake’s magnitude as 7, specifying that the epicenter of the tremor was located in the province of Al-Haouz, southwest of the tourist city of Marrakech.
More than half of the deaths (694) have been reported in Al-Haouz and Taroudant (347), further south, two rural mountainous areas in the heart of the High Atlas, according to the ministry, which reported that rescue operations are ongoing.
