According to Morocco’s Interior Ministry, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck Morocco late on Friday night, resulting in the death of over 2,000 individuals. This earthquake is the strongest to hit the country in more than a century.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the earthquake as having a magnitude of 6.8 when it occurred at 11:11 p.m. local time, and the shaking lasted for several seconds. Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured the earthquake as a 7 on the Richter scale. The U.S. agency also reported a 4.9-magnitude aftershock that occurred 19 minutes later.
Marrakech, a city with a population of nearly one million people and a renowned tourist destination famous for its historic palaces, was significantly impacted by the earthquake. Furthermore, Marrakech was the host city for the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference.
According to the Moroccan Interior Ministry, the death toll of the earthquake near Marrakech has exceeded 2,000 individuals. Officials stated that at least 2,012 people lost their lives, primarily in Marrakech and five provinces near the epicenter. Additionally, 2,059 individuals were reported injured, with 1,404 of them in critical condition.
