The majority of deaths have happened in Al-Haouz, the epicentre of Morocco earthquake and Taroudant provinces. Deaths were also recorded in Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Azilal and Youssoufia provinces, as well as in Marrakesh, Agadir and the Casablanca area, and the toll across Morocco had soared over 1000 and was sure to go further up.
The death toll in Morocco’s greatest earthquake exceeded 1000 on Saturday (September 9), revealed numbers given by the government. The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit a hilly area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Marrakesh around 11:11 pm (2211 GMT) on Friday, as per US Geological Survey.
The earthquake triggered severe vibrations in Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira, the coastal cities in the country.
“I was nearly asleep when I heard the doors and the shutters banging,” said Ghannou Najem, a Casablanca resident in her 80s who was visiting Marrakesh when the quake occurred. She was quoted by AFP.
“I walked outdoors in panic. I felt I was going to die alone.”
Friday’s earthquake is the strongest-ever to hit Morocco. AFP quoted an expert who said that the quake was the region’s “biggest in more than 120 years”.
“Where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough… so many collapse, resulting in high casualties,” said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at Britain’s University College London.
Updated data given by the country’s interior ministry revealed that at least 1037 individuals were deceased. 1204 persons were hurt and out of them, 721 were serious.
The majority of deaths have happened in Al-Haouz, the epicentre of Morocco earthquake and Taroudant provinces. Deaths were also recorded in Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Azilal and Youssoufia provinces, as well as in Marrakesh, Agadir and the Casablanca area, and the toll across Morocco had soared over 1000 and was sure to go further up.
The enormous destruction has sparked panic among the populace.
“There are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake,” said Faisal Badour, a resident of Marrakesh as quoted by AFP.
Rescuers are seeking for survivors in collapsed houses in Moulay Brahim hamlet of Al-Houz governorate, near the quake’s epicentre.
Footage on social media revealed collapse of part of a minaret in Jemaa el-Fna square in Marrakesh.
World leaders have expressed astonishment and pledged to aid Morocco in rescue and salvage work.
It is believed that the death toll would climb.
