Earthquakes are rare in North Africa. But now a massive earthquake shook Morocco, hitting several major cities and killing at least 632 people. There are also said to be hundreds of injuries. Fearing aftershocks, many are spending the night outside as rescuers desperately search for survivors. If this affects you, please contact krone.at (see all information in the text below)!
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicenter of the magnitude 6.8 earthquake was about 45 miles southwest of Marrakech in the sparsely populated Atlas Mountains at a depth of 11.5 miles. It is the first time in a century that such a strong earthquake has been recorded in Morocco.
Video from an Austrian from the affected area:
According to Al Arabiya broadcaster, a magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck near Agadir in 1960, killing thousands of people.
“Neighbors are under the rubble”
“Our neighbors are under the rubble of their houses and we are trying to save them with the available resources,” a resident of the mountain village of Asni (not far from the epicenter) told state TV. Most houses there have been damaged.
Collapsed buildings
Residents of the city of Marrakech reported collapsed buildings in the historic old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. People were digging through the rubble with their bare hands and waiting for heavy equipment, a resident said. Another reported ambulances coming from the old city.
Panic among residents
A resident of Essaouira, about 200 kilometers west of Marrakech, said: “There is not too much damage, just panic. At the time of the earthquake we heard screaming. People are in the squares and cafes and prefer to sleep outside. Parts of facades have fallen down.”
“Feel a strong tremor”
“We felt a very strong tremor and I realized it was an earthquake,” said another resident of Marrakech. “I saw the buildings shaking. Then I went outside where many people had already gathered. The people were all shocked and panicked. The children were crying and the parents were desperate,” he said.
Electricity and telephone networks failed
Many residents stayed outside for fear of aftershocks. The electricity and telephone networks were temporarily out of service. Local media reported that a family was buried under the rubble of their home in the city of Al Haouz, the epicenter of the earthquake.
Nasser Jabour, head of a department at the National Institute of Geophysics, confirmed that the aftershocks were less severe. The earthquake was felt within a radius of 400 kilometers, he said.
According to the Foreign Ministry, no Austrians were injured
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Saturday morning that there is currently no information about those affected from Austria. However, currently there are about 30 people registered for travel. An employee of the Austrian embassy in Rabat is already on his way to the particularly affected crisis area of Marrakech. According to the ministry, approximately 215 Austrians are currently living abroad in Morocco.
Will Austria send an aid mission to Morocco?
“They were contacted by text message and email that evening and are currently being called by the embassy,” a spokeswoman said. It is currently unclear whether Austria will send an aid mission. The federal government was “of course prepared to support Morocco as best as possible,” it was announced. However, no requests for assistance have yet been received. This is done in coordination with the partner countries in the EU.
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Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
