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Powerful earthquake in Morocco: the toll rises to more than 600 dead and 300 injured

ByThe Mwebantu Team

A violent earthquake struck the province of Al-Haouz, Morocco, on the night of Friday to Saturday. The earthquake caused significant damage and sowed panic in Marrakech and other cities.

Scenes of panic and desolation. Morocco was hit on the night of Friday September 8 to Saturday September 9 by a powerful earthquake. The quake, of magnitude 7 on the Richter scale, affected several major cities, including the very touristy city of Marrakech. Its epicenter was in the province of Al-Houz, northwest of the commune. “According to a provisional report, this earthquake led to the death of 296 people in the provinces and communes of Al-Haouz, Marrakech, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant,” the ministry said in a statement. According to the same source, 153 people were injured and hospitalized.

The epicenter of the earthquake is southwest of the city of Marrakech, 320 km south of the capital Rabat, according to the American Institute of Geophysics (USGS). It is magnitude 6.8 on the Richter scale. The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), based in Rabat, instead indicated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7 degrees and that its epicenter was in the province of Al-Haouz, 50 km to the southwest of Marrakech.

The Mwebantu Team
The Mwebantu Team

Led by Nia, the insightful editor-in-chief, Kwame, our technology expert, and Amara, the bold field reporter, the Mwebantu team weaves the vibrant narrative of Africa every day, forging a narrative bridge between the continent and the world. Their shared passion illuminates the mission of Mwebantu News, making African voices resonate on the global stage.