Massive earthquake in Morocco leaves an estimated 1,000 dead

Last night an earthquake struck western Morocco in a mountainous area. The quake was reportedly a 6.8 in magnitude though initial reports put it higher.

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing at least 1,000 people and injuring more than 1,200 in three provinces, damaging buildings and historic sites and blocking roads…

The powerful earthquake damaged buildings in major cities and sent panicked people pouring into streets and alleyways from the capital Rabat to Marrakech, the county’s most visited tourist destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site…

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it hit at 11:11 p.m., with shaking that lasted several seconds. Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale. The U.S. agency reported a 4.0-magnitude aftershock hit 19 minutes later.

This clip apparently shows the moment the quake hits, though I’m not sure where this was recorded.

Horrible moment a strong earthquake hits in Morocco 🇲🇦

TELEGRAM JOIN 👉 https://t.co/9cTkji5aZq pic.twitter.com/sdvgqpPrQk

— Disaster News (@Top_Disaster) September 9, 2023

This was recorded in Marrakech:

On manger tranquillement et y a eu un tremblement de terre à Marrakech pic.twitter.com/hockTbHL42

— L (@lyhna784) September 8, 2023

Even after the shaking stopped buildings were collapsing:

#BREAKING🚨 Horrific moment of collapse of a house caught on security camera #earthquake at #Morocco in the region of #Marrakech

Pray for Maroc 🙏#moroccoearthquake #seismemaroc #seisme #maroc #prayerformorocco #هزة_أرضية #المغرب #زلزال #زلزال_المغرب #مراكش pic.twitter.com/gRkV4ICjeu

— World Trending X (@WorldTrendingX) September 9, 2023

Another similar clip.

🚨 #BREAKING | #Morocco | #earthquake | #Marrakech |#الزلزال | #المغرب

The moment a building completely collapsed following the earthquake that struck Morocco a short while ago. pic.twitter.com/9n22NfiC8F

— Bot News (@BotNews18) September 9, 2023

Given how dangerous it was to go inside, people in Marrakech just stayed in the streets all night.

At least 632 people have been killed following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, officials have said.

Local journalist Rida Fakhar tells @KamaliMelbourne about his experience, as he was in Marrakech during the earthquake. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/aeCP7xjffu

— Sky News (@SkyNews) September 9, 2023

We spent the night on the streets of Marrakech with hundreds of locals terrified as last night’s #earthquake has been reported to be the biggest tremor in Morocco’s recent history. pic.twitter.com/mznXn6c9Bz

— Carmen Moreno (@itscardamomo) September 9, 2023

Video from the mountains near the epicenter of the quake shows building that have been reduced to rubble.

Morocco earthquake death toll reaches 1,037; over 1,200 injuredpic.twitter.com/hKZfPsrjzb

— BNO News (@BNONews) September 9, 2023

People spent the night trying to rescue survivors. Amazingly, an infant was rescued from the rubble of a collapsed building.

🇲🇦⛑️| Scène émouvante près de Marrakech où une enfant a été sauvée in extremis des décombres après le séisme d’Al Haouz. pic.twitter.com/0cJfUhjwLt

— Morocco Intelligence (@MoroccoIntel) September 9, 2023

Trapped animals were rescued too.

Moroccan man saving a cat after a house collapsed due to the strong earthquake#earthquake #Morocco #moroccoearthquake #زلزال_المغرب pic.twitter.com/WyNpejtuFB

— Oussama Larh (@Oussazeus) September 9, 2023

Reporting on the damage this morning even some journalists couldn’t keep it together.

A journalist breaks down in tears at the horror of the level of destruction caused by the earthquake in Morocco. 💔The devastating damage caused by earthquakes.#earthquake #Terremoto #Temblor #Morocco #Marruecos #地震 #Marrakech pic.twitter.com/eJG5bGpXSk

— Pan (@antony67) September 9, 2023

Lots of people lining up to donate blood to help the injured.

En Direct du Centre de Transfusion de Marrakech 🇲🇦

Bravo au peuple marocain Fier et Solidaire qui a répondu à l’appel des autorités 👏🏽👏🏽

🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽🤲🏽🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/b6GEeiotZx

— Jaf (@Jafkech) September 9, 2023

There is a lot of damage and the death toll has already climbed dramatically from 600 to over 1,000. The deadliest quake in the country’s history happeened back in 1960:

Serious earthquakes in Morocco, which the U.S. Geological Survey calls “uncommon but not unexpected,” have inflicted deaths and significant economic damage before.

The worst in Morocco’s recent history was a 5.8-magnitude earthquake that killed about 12,000 people and injured another 12,000 in March 1960.

The western coastal town of Agadir crumbled under that quake’s force. About a third of its population perished. Restaurants, shops and the central market were leveled. Thousands of people were buried under concrete.

🆕️ This is what Marrakech looks like 12 hours after the earthquake. People lost their homes, cars… Many losses were suffered by traders – beaten porcelain, dishes, collapsed shops.#Marrakech #earthquake pic.twitter.com/K1qA4uSkyw

— Maksymilian Dyśko (@MaksDysko) September 9, 2023

Inside Marrakech: hours after the devastation

“I watched as the whole hotel quaked, like it was made of cardboard, swinging from side to side.” Widad Bilhaj, a hotelier, was sitting outside by her hotel’s swimming pool when the earthquake struck Morocco, she said that the… pic.twitter.com/eJIyhSW1Ey

— Jordan News (@jordannewsdaily) September 9, 2023

Some additional video from the NY Times: