Morocco's Devastating Earthquake: Over 2,000 Lives Lost

 Morocco's Devastating Earthquake: Over 2,000 Lives Lost

Morocco's Devastating Earthquake: Over 2,000 Lives Lost(Image-Getty)

Moroccan earthquake survivors endured a harrowing night exposed to the elements in the High Atlas Mountains, a day following the country's most devastating earthquake in over six decades. This seismic event claimed the lives of more than 2,000 individuals and left villages in ruins.

In the aftermath, neighbors launched desperate searches for survivors buried beneath the mountainside, where houses constructed from mud brick, stone, and rough wood had crumbled, and mosque minarets had tumbled. The historic city of Marrakech also suffered significant damage.

According to the Interior Ministry, the earthquake resulted in 2,012 fatalities and left 2,059 people injured, with 1,404 in critical condition. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake's magnitude at 6.8, with its epicenter approximately 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech.

In the village of Amizmiz, near the epicenter, rescue workers labored tirelessly to extract survivors from the rubble. Streets were obstructed by fallen masonry, and outside a hospital, the deceased lay covered in blankets as grieving family members looked on.

Mohamed Azaw, a survivor, recounted the terrifying experience: "When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. But my neighbors couldn't escape." Tragically, no one from that family survived, with the father and son found dead while the search continued for the mother and daughter.

In Amizmiz, rescuers balanced atop collapsed floors, surrounded by bits of carpet and furniture protruding from the debris. A long line formed outside the only open shop as people sought supplies. Rescuers faced additional challenges as fallen boulders blocked a road connecting Amizmiz to a nearby village.

Almost all the houses in Asni, located approximately 40 km south of Marrakech, suffered damage, leaving villagers preparing to spend the night outdoors. Food shortages loomed due to collapsed roofs blocking access to kitchens.

Montasir Itri, a resident of Asni, emphasized the ongoing search for survivors: "Our neighbors are under the rubble, and people are working tirelessly to rescue them using whatever means are available in the village."

Tansghart, a village in the Ansi area, bore the brunt of the earthquake's devastation. Its picturesque houses, perched on steep hillsides, were split open by the violent tremors. Those still standing exhibited missing sections of walls and plaster, while two mosque minarets had collapsed.

Abdellatif Ait Bella, a laborer, lay injured, and his wife Saida Bodchich expressed deep concern for their family of six. Their home was gone, and they had no food. The village was already mourning ten lives lost, including two teenage girls.

The earthquake's tremors reached as far as southern Spain, causing alarm in Huelva and Jaen. The World Health Organization reported that over 300,000 people were affected in Marrakech and the surrounding regions.

Footage from street cameras in Marrakech captured the moment the earth began to shake, with people panicking and seeking shelter as dust and debris filled the air.

Morocco declared three days of national mourning, lowering the national flag to half-staff throughout the country. The Moroccan armed forces mobilized rescue teams to deliver clean drinking water, food supplies, tents, and blankets to the affected areas.

Various nations, including Turkey and Algeria, expressed solidarity and offered support in the wake of this tragedy. Algeria even opened its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights, despite political tensions with Morocco.

The earthquake, recorded at a depth of 18.5 km, was particularly destructive due to its shallow depth, a characteristic often associated with greater devastation for quakes of the same magnitude. This event marked Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960, when a quake claimed an estimated 12,000 lives, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

Mohammad Kashani, an associate professor of structural and earthquake engineering at the University of Southampton, drew parallels between the scenes of devastation in Morocco and the earthquake in Turkey in February. Many buildings in the affected area were old and constructed with masonry, making them vulnerable to collapse.

Despite the forthcoming annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in Marrakech, authorities and organizations emphasized their immediate focus on aiding the people affected by this tragic earthquake.