At least 1,000 dead and more than 1,200 injured in an earthquake in Morocco

At least 1,037 people have died and another 1,204 have been injured in different Moroccan towns due to the magnitude 7 earthquake that occurred on Friday night with its epicenter 60 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech, according to Moroccan state television. The Government of Morocco assures that more than 721 injuries are serious.

According to the latest data released this Saturday by the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior, the province with the most deaths recorded is Al Haouz, -south of Marrakech and close to the epicenter-, with 394 deaths, followed by Taroudant, Chichaoua, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal , Agadir, Casablanca and Al Youssufia.

The injured, of varying severity, have been transferred to hospital centers, indicates the ministry, which adds that there was also material damage in uninhabited areas.

According to the Interior, which calls on citizens to remain calm, security and civil protection forces from all affected provinces have been mobilized, as well as the necessary means to intervene and assess the damage.

Foreign Affairs has no record of Spanish victims

The Government is currently not aware of any deaths or injuries of Spanish nationals in the Moroccan earthquake, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares.

In statements from New Delhi, where Albares is participating in the G20 summit, the minister reported that the Executive has offered the Moroccan authorities support for the rescue efforts as well as the subsequent reconstruction, although Morocco has not yet made any request. about.

The minister explained that until noon this Saturday and after contacting both the embassy and the consulates of Spain in Morocco, there was no evidence of any Spanish fatalities or injuries.

On social networks, Moroccans have shared numerous photos and videos showing damaged and fallen buildings, some with injured people and bodies in the rubble. Several buildings in the medina, the old city of Marrakech, have been damaged by the earthquake.

According to a seismic alert bulletin released by the Moroccan National Institute of Geophysics, the earthquake, of magnitude 7, shook the northern Moroccan region of Marrakech and occurred at 11:11 p.m. local time (00:11 GMT on Saturday) at 8 kilometers deep.

The earthquake had its epicenter in the town of Ighil, located 63 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech.

Neighbors of Marrakech have explained to EFE the fear they experienced during the tremor, which lasted several minutes and left buildings and mosques in the medina (old city) damaged.

Khalid, a resident of the medina, has indicated that the minaret of the Bab Ailan mosque fell to the ground due to the tremor and the entrance to the temple was also damaged.

Another resident of Marrakech explains that after the earthquake the mythical square of Jma El Fnaa was filled with people to protect themselves from possible aftershocks and that the authorities did not allow citizens to walk through the narrow streets of the ancient city.

Other witnesses have indicated that the earthquake has been felt in northern towns such as Larache, 550 kilometers from the epicenter, as well as in Casablanca and Rabat, 300 and 370 kilometers away, respectively, where their inhabitants took to the streets to prevent aftershocks.

Spain’s condolences

This Saturday, the Spanish Government conveyed the country’s solidarity and its condolences with Morocco after the earthquake. It was the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that expressed this solidarity with Morocco and with the victims on behalf of Spain in a message published on Twitter.

On the same social network, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, who is at the G20 summit in New Delhi, has ratified that solidarity. “Our thoughts are with the victims and loved ones of this terrible earthquake. All our solidarity with Morocco and its people,” wrote Albares.

The acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, also expressed this Saturday Spain’s support and solidarity with Morocco in the face of the consequences of the earthquake that has caused hundreds of deaths.

International support

Leaders and governments from different parts of the world have offered help to Morocco after the devastating earthquake.

Almost all of the messages have reached the Government of Morocco in the form of a telegram and have been made known through the social network X (formerly Twitter).

The earthquake, of magnitude 7, had its epicenter in the town of Ighil, located about 80 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech, an area in which, according to experts, it was not expected that an earthquake of such strength could occur.

After the event, the highest representatives of the main bodies of the European Union (Commission, Council and Parliament) have expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people and have offered community aid to the country’s Government.

In this sense, the Commissioner for Crisis Management, Janez Lenarcic, has assured that the Emergency Response Coordination Center “is closely monitoring the situation” and that the European Union “is prepared to provide any necessary assistance if required.” requests.”