Death Toll Rises to Over 1,000 after Severe Earthquake in Morocco
The number of fatalities has risen to at least 1,037, according to government reports, following the severe earthquake in Morocco. Over 1,200 people have been reported injured, and several countries have offered their support.
The death toll continues to rise in Morocco after the severe earthquake. The country’s government announced that at least 1,037 people have lost their lives. Additionally, more than 1,200 injuries have been recorded.
The earthquake caused severe damage in various parts of the North African country. Images of destruction range from the Atlas Mountains to the famous old town of Marrakesh, where famous cultural landmarks have also been affected.
Germany sends first responders
Assistance from abroad is on its way, as Germany also prepares for rescue operations. The preparations of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) are already underway, said Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser to the news agency dpa. “As soon as we have more information about the specific aid needed, we can send our specialists to Morocco,” said the SPD politician. According to a THW spokesperson, search and rescue teams or water purification systems are possible options for assistance.
However, the situation is still very chaotic, according to the German Red Cross (DRK). “But what is clear is that the people in the affected regions urgently need humanitarian assistance,” said DRK Secretary-General Christian Reuter.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8
The earthquake occurred late on Friday night and lasted for several seconds. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), it had a magnitude of 6.8, while the Helmholtz Center in Potsdam reported it as 6.9. The epicenter was located 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh in the sparsely populated Atlas Mountains, at a depth of only 18.5 kilometers. Earthquakes at such shallow depths are particularly dangerous, according to experts.
Rescue teams search for survivors under the rubble
According to the Ministry of the Interior, most of the victims were reported from the city of Marrakesh and the five provinces surrounding the epicenter of the earthquake. There is no information available yet regarding any German fatalities. “We are closely liaising with local authorities regarding the earthquake and the situation in Morocco,” said a spokesperson for the Foreign Office when asked by the news agency AFP. The team from the German Embassy in Rabat has established an emergency hotline.
Rescue teams continue to search for survivors under the rubble. It is feared that the official death toll may rise further as the emergency teams reach more remote areas. Local media reported that access roads to affected mountain villages were blocked by fallen rocks, and traffic congestion was hindering the passage of emergency responders.
UNESCO World Heritage Site in Marrakesh damaged
Images and videos shared on social media from the night show scenes of panic in Marrakesh: people screaming as they flee restaurants, fearing further tremors. Piles of rubble, destroyed buildings, and damaged portions of the famous red walls are also visible. The walls surround the Medina – the old city – of Marrakesh and are a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is renowned for its narrow alleys and numerous merchants and is a popular tourist destination.
“Strongest instrumentally measured earthquake in Morocco”
The tremors were felt within a radius of 400 kilometers, according to Nasser Jabour, head of a department at the National Institute of Geophysics, speaking to the Moroccan news agency MAP. Seismologist Frederik Tilman from the Helmholtz Center in Potsdam referred to it as the “strongest instrumentally measured earthquake in Morocco” during an interview with tagesschau 24.
Earthquakes in North Africa are relatively rare. In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake near Agadir resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, according to Al Arabiya news channel.
Earthquake also Felt in Portugal, Spain, and Algeria
The earthquake was also felt in southern Spain and Portugal, as well as in Algeria. The emergency hotline in Andalusia, Spain, received over 20 calls from concerned citizens in the regions of Huelva, Seville, Jaén, Malaga, Marbella, and Cordoba shortly after midnight, according to the organization’s X (formerly Twitter) post. However, no information regarding damages or casualties has been reported.
Authorities in southern Portugal, including Faro, Lisbon, and Setúbal, reported a similar situation, according to the Portuguese state news agency Lusa.
International support pours in
Many heads of state and government expressed their concern over the disaster and extended their condolences to the victims, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz. “Our thoughts are with the victims of the devastating earthquake during these difficult hours,” the SPD politician shared on the X platform (formerly Twitter).
UN Secretary-General António Guterres and EU Council President Charles Michel pledged support from the United Nations and the European Union, respectively. Other countries, including Spain, Portugal, Israel, and the United Kingdom, offered humanitarian aid and assistance for reconstruction.
Additional world leaders, such as China’s Xi Jinping, expressed their sympathy. US President Joe Biden expressed his deep sadness, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated on X that Turkey stands “by the Moroccan brothers and sisters on this difficult day with all means possible.”
