Morocco Rocked by Deadly 7.2 Earthquake: Over 1,000 Lives Lost, Worst in 60 Years
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Central Morocco Struck by Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake, Claiming Over 1,000 Lives and Injuring Dozens, Reports US Geological Survey.
Old Marrakech Mosque Damaged in Morocco After Powerful Earthquake. (Photo: Reuters)
Over 1,000 lives were tragically lost, and dozens suffered injuries when a powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck central Morocco late on Friday. An additional 300 injured individuals were rushed to hospitals for treatment.
Most of the damage occurred outside urban areas, as confirmed by Morocco’s Interior Ministry. Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the devastation.
Expressing condolences, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to the microblogging site X (formerly Twitter) to share his grief and offer assistance: “Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco…India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported a magnitude of 6.8, while Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale. A magnitude-4.9 aftershock occurred 19 minutes later. While earthquakes are uncommon in North Africa, a devastating magnitude 5.8 tremor struck Agadir in 1960.
The epicenter was located high in the Atlas Mountains, around 70 kilometers south of Marrakech, near Toubkal and Oukaimeden. Reports on casualties and damage were limited, with neither Moroccan officials nor the official news agency, MAP, providing detailed information.
The quake was felt in Portugal and Algeria, causing panic and prompting people to evacuate buildings. Videos on social media depicted damaged structures and people fleeing to open spaces. Marrakesh residents reported damaged building facades and widespread fear of further tremors.
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