Moroccan Earthquake Death Toll Crosses 1,000, Over 1,200 Injured

The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck central Morocco late on Friday night has risen to over 1,000, according to reports from the news agency AP. The Moroccan Interior Ministry has stated that at least 1,037 people have been killed and 1,204 others injured, with most of the casualties occurring in Marrakech and five provinces near the earthquake's epicenter.

The earthquake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude, struck Morocco's High Atlas Mountain range around 11 pm local time on Friday. It had a relatively shallow depth of 18.5 km. The epicenter was located approximately 72 km southwest of Marrakech, a city with a population of around 840,000 people and a popular tourist destination.

This earthquake is reported to be the most significant to hit Morocco in 120 years. Many buildings in the affected areas suffered severe damage and collapsed, as they were not constructed to withstand such powerful earthquakes. The walls of these structures, often made from stone and masonry, were not designed to withstand strong ground shaking.

In response to the disaster, King Mohammed VI of Morocco ordered the mobilization of the armed forces, including air and land assets, as well as specialized search and rescue teams to conduct rescue operations.

Of the 1,204 people injured, 721 were in critical condition, as reported by Morocco's Interior Ministry.

According to experts, earthquakes of this magnitude are infrequent but not unexpected in the region. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) noted that since 1900, there have been no earthquakes with a magnitude greater than 6 within 500 km of the epicenter. Only nine earthquakes with a magnitude of 5 have occurred in the same region.

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces issued a warning to locals to remain vigilant for aftershocks. On X (formerly Twitter), the military emphasized the need for caution and safety measures due to the risk of further seismic activity.

Marrakech, known for its historic old city, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, is also the fourth-largest city in Morocco and serves as a significant economic center.