“Powerful Quake in Morocco Claims 2,000 Lives and Injures 1,500 More According to the Moroccan government, a devastating earthquake struck the country on Sunday, killing 2,000 people and injuring 1,500 others.”
Morocco has been hit hard by a powerful earthquake, resulting in a devastating toll. The latest reports from Morocco’s government indicate that over 2,000 people have tragically lost their lives, and approximately 1,500 individuals have been injured. These numbers have more than doubled from earlier assessments, as reported by AP.
Videos shared by Moroccans on social media depict the horrifying aftermath of the earthquake, with buildings reduced to rubble and dust. Additionally, parts of the iconic red walls surrounding the historic city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, have sustained damage.
The US Geological Survey initially reported the earthquake’s magnitude as 6.8, occurring at 11:11 pm, with several seconds of intense shaking. Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network recorded it as registering 7 on the Richter scale. The US agency also noted a magnitude 4.9 aftershock that struck 19 minutes later.
In response to this catastrophic event, nations worldwide have offered assistance to Morocco. The International Federation for Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has allocated over $1 million from its emergency disaster fund to support the Moroccan Red Crescent’s relief efforts on the ground.
The next 24 to 48 hours are expected to be critical for saving lives, according to the global humanitarian network. They have cautioned that support may be required for months, if not years, as Morocco copes with the aftermath of this devastating earthquake.
