A devastating earthquake struck Morocco late Friday evening, killing hundreds. Its epicenter was 80 km from Marrakesh. Here the magnitude of the tremors reached 7.2 points. The natural disaster also affected other provinces. According to official data, this list included Al-Hawz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.
Tourists in other localities also felt it: “We are in Agadir, we also got 5.7. We didn’t sleep all night. The houses shook. Everything was shaking. People in pajamas and shorts ran out into the streets,” tourists write.
Currently, according to confirmed data from the country’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, at least 632 people have died.
Most of the victims are in inaccessible mountainous areas. The buildings could not stand it – in many settlements there was destruction. People fled their homes in panic, fearing to remain under the rubble. For safety’s sake, we had to sleep right on the street.
The historical and cultural heritage also suffered. In Marrakech, the medieval city wall has been partially destroyed. There are large cracks in other parts of the structure.