A devastating earthquake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude, has battered Morocco. The disaster claimed the lives of at least 296 people. Sadly, this number is only a preliminary statistic from the Interior Ministry. Furthermore, the quake has left behind 153 injured individuals.
Most of the deceased are from hard to reach mountain regions. This unfortunate detail emerged from a local official’s statement. Next to the quake’s epicenter lies Marrakech, a major Moroccan city. Many residents reported major structural damage and collapsed buildings.
The quake took place just after 11pm. The United States Geological Survey confirmed the epicenter was 72km south-west of Marrakech, at a shallow depth of 18.5 kilometers. Moreover, it was 56km west of the town of Oukaimeden.
The fluent quake activity occurred in Ighil, a region in the High Atlas Mountains. This area houses small farming villages. Asni is one such mountain village located near the epicenter. Montasir Itri, a resident, conveyed the heavy damage their houses suffered. Consequently, houses there are no longer safe or habitable.