Late Friday night, a devastating earthquake rocked Morocco, leaving at least 296 people dead and numerous buildings reduced to rubble, as per reports from the country’s Interior Ministry. This catastrophe marks the deadliest seismic event the nation has witnessed since the 2004 Al Hoceima earthquake in the northern Rif mountains, which claimed over 600 lives.
In Marrakech, the UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its historic red walls that encapsulate the old city, sustained noticeable damage. In the aftermath, citizens and tourists flooded social media platforms with terrifying visuals depicting dust-filled air, crumbled structures, and frantic evacuations from restaurants with dissonant background scores of still-playing club music.
As residents took to the streets to escape possible aftershocks, the initial examinations of the destruction became apparent. Vehicles lay crushed under fallen debris, and many other cars were coated with a thick layer of dust resulting from the collapsing structures. State-owned Al Oula TV circulated handout images offering a glimpse into the extensive damage inflicted by the quake.
The scenes from the affected regions bore testimony to the panic and chaos unfolding in real-time. Families, with children in tow, congregated in open spaces, predominantly on the streets of Casablanca, apprehensively discussing the appropriate time to deem it safe for returning to their residences.
Emergency services are working tirelessly, navigating through the wreckage to locate and rescue survivors trapped under the debris. Authorities urge residents to remain cautious and prepared for potential aftershocks, advising them to stay in open areas away from damaged structures to avoid further casualties.
The nation now rallies together, amid the loss and despair, in a unified endeavor to rebuild and recover, showcasing an unwavering spirit of solidarity. The Moroccan government has initiated rescue and rehabilitation operations, reaching out to the affected communities and promising swift actions to restore normalcy.
