A violent earthquake struck the province of Al-Haouz in Morocco on the night of Friday to Saturday. The earthquake caused significant damage and panic in Marrakech and other cities.
Scenes of panic and devastation unfolded as Morocco was hit by a powerful earthquake during the night of Friday, September 8, to Saturday, September 9. The tremor, measuring 7 on the Richter scale, affected several major cities, including the highly touristy city of Marrakech. Its epicenter was located in the province of Al-Haouz, northwest of the city. “According to a preliminary report, this earthquake has resulted in the death of 296 people in the provinces and municipalities of Al-Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant,” the ministry stated in a press release. According to the same source, 153 people were injured and hospitalized.
The epicenter of the earthquake is located southwest of the city of Marrakech, 320 km south of the capital Rabat, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). It has a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), based in Rabat, reported that the earthquake was of a magnitude of 7 degrees, with its epicenter located in the province of Al-Haouz, 50 km southwest of Marrakech.
