As a result of the massive earthquake that struck the nation, rescue activities have been initiated after structures were reduced to rubble.
After the largest earthquake to hit Morocco in a century occurred on Friday, at least 2,122 individuals lost their lives and another 2,421 were injured. The United Nations estimates that the earthquake has had an impact on the lives of at least 300,000 people in the country located in North Africa.
As a result of the massive earthquake that struck the nation, rescue activities have been initiated after structures were reduced to rubble.
In a statement that was issued by the Ministry of the Interior, it was stated that “the Moroccan authorities have carefully assessed the needs on the ground, bearing in mind that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive.”
This is what we have learned up to this point:
When and where exactly did the earthquake take place?
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimated that the earthquake’s preliminary magnitude was 6.8 when it struck around 11:11 p.m. on Friday. The shaking caused by the earthquake persisted for several seconds. On the Richter scale, it was recorded as a seven by the National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network of Morocco.
The United States Geological Survey also reported that an aftershock measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale occurred 19 minutes later.
In the recent earthquake that struck Morocco, a young kid of eight years old was slain as his family sat down to dinner.
The core of the earthquake that struck Morocco was located high in the Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 kilometres south of Marrakech, which is the commercial and economic centre of Morocco. It was also close to Toubkal, which is the tallest mountain in North Africa, as well as Oukaimeden, which is a well-known ski resort in Morocco.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located 18.5 kilometres below the surface of the Earth. However, the seismic agency of Morocco estimated that it was just 8 kilometres deep.
Magnitude and scope of the earthquake
The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8, which is categorised as a “strong” magnitude. The earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth, which contributed to its more powerful and devastating aftershocks.
According to the USGS, the earthquakes that occurred in the area were unusual but not unexpected. According to CNN, there have been nine earthquakes in the region with a magnitude of 5 or higher since the 1900s, but none of them have had a magnitude greater than 6.
This is the deadliest earthquake to hit Morocco since 1960, when a quake rocked the town of Agadir and killed over 12,000 people and damaged the whole city, which has been rebuilt since then. This earthquake is the deadliest earthquake to hit Morocco since 1960.
The shocks of the earthquake were felt in coastal cities as far inland as Rabat, the capital of the country, as well as Casablanca, Essaouira, and Agadir. The shocks from the earthquake were also felt in the neighbouring countries of Portugal and Algeria.
Which parts of the building have suffered the most damage?
The Koutoubia Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Marrakesh and was constructed in the 12th century, as well as the red walls that surround the old city and are a UNESCO World Heritage site, both sustained damage as a result of the earthquake.
The quake in Morocco also caused damage to a historical mosque in the High Atlas Mountains called the Tinmel Mosque. This mosque was established in the middle ages by a dynasty that also conquered North Africa and Spain.
In addition to this, some buildings have suffered damage that is irreparable, and according to eyewitness accounts, several villages and towns in the area of the Atlas Mountains have been completely wiped out, as reported by CNN.
Damage has been done to almost all of the dwellings in the Asni community. Over a thousand people have lost their lives in the province of Al Haouz, and approximately 400 people have been killed in the city of Taroudant in Morocco. A community located around 59 miles from the epicentre, Tafeghaghte, has been completely levelled by the earthquake.
The city of Marrakesh, which is a major tourist destination and one of the largest cities in Morocco, has also sustained significant damage.
What kind of response did governments all throughout the world give?
Morocco made the announcement on Sunday that it had accepted relief from four countries: Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. This occurred after a number of countries stepped out and offered support and assistance to the severely-affected country.
According to AFP, the Ministry of the Interior of Morocco stated that the country’s officials had given a positive response “at this stage” to offers from these four countries “to send search and rescue teams.” Only four countries’ offers have been approved because “a lack of coordination could be counterproductive,” according to the ministry, which added that international teams are now collaborating with authorities.
The African nation of Tunisia has dispatched fifty medical professionals and members of specialised units, in addition to searching dogs, high-tech monitoring equipment, and drones. The state of Qatar has dispatched rescue and medical personnel.
On Sunday, a military and rescue team from Spain consisting of 56 officers and four canines made its way to Morocco. Another group from Spain consisting of thirty persons and four dogs set out for Morocco at the same time.
In response to the accident, the United States dispatched a team of disaster professionals, while the United Kingdom sent 60 rescue personnel and four dogs. Morocco will receive 2 million euros from France as part of an aid package.
There are also officials from Israel’s national medical and disaster emergency service, which is known as Magen David Adom. Additionally, Oman issued an order for rescue teams, immediate aid, and medical assistance to be delivered to Morocco.
If Morocco was in need of more support and aid, several other nations, like Taiwan and Turkey, have indicated that they are prepared to send in teams to provide it.
The response of the government of Morocco
The government of Morocco has issued a statement saying that it has engaged all of the available resources in order to deal with the earthquake and has asked the population to refrain from becoming panicked.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco has given the order to establish a relief committee that will be in charge of distributing aid to survivors, including those who have lost both their parents and their homes as a result of the earthquake.
In addition to this, he declared a time of national mourning to last for three days and asked mosques all around the country to offer funeral prayers known as janazah on Sunday.
