There was a very strong earthquake in Morocco. As a result of this seismic event, more than 2,040 people died and another 2,200 were injured in various degrees. This data is an update of earlier information provided by the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior. It is noteworthy that many victims were located in hard-to-reach, mountainous areas of the country.
The epicenter of this shock, whose strength was 7.2 on the Richter scale, was located in the High Atlas Mountains, specifically in the Isis region. This is an area located approximately 70 km south of Marrakech. Quakes with such characteristics, i.e. those occurring at a relatively shallow depth, are considered more destructive.
The tremors caused serious damage to Morocco's architectural heritage. Footage has emerged on social media showing the destruction, including the iconic red walls surrounding Marrakech's Old City, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the city's most important monuments, the 12th-century Koutoubia mosque, was also damaged. The extent of damage to this facility is still under investigation.
It is worth emphasizing that the repercussions of this earthquake were felt not only in Morocco. Tremors were recorded as far away as Portugal and Algeria. The international scientific and aid community is already declaring support for Morocco. The United Nations and the European Union have declared their readiness to help.
This event serves as a reminder of the seismic activity affecting Morocco. The country has experienced several strong earthquakes in its history, including the disastrous 1960 earthquake near Agadir. Therefore, scientists emphasize the need for further research and monitoring of this activity in the region.
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