A powerful earthquake hit Morocco on Friday night, resulting in hundreds of casualties and significant infrastructure damage.
Immediate impact: According to Morocco’s Interior Ministry, the quake killed at least 296 people and injured another 153.
* The most significant destruction was witnessed in provinces outside city areas.
* Videos posted online show buildings in ruins and iconic structures like the red walls of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, severely damaged.
Geological outlook: The US Geological Survey reported the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, while Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale.
* A magnitude-4.9 aftershock was reported 19 minutes after the initial quake.
* The epicenter was located high up in the Atlas Mountains, about 70 kilometers south of Marrakech.
Broader Impact: Tremors from the powerful earthquake were felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria.
* Earthquakes of this strength are relatively rare in North Africa, with the last significant one, a magnitude 5.8 seismic event, occurring near Agadir in 1960 causing thousands of deaths.
Remaining uncertainties: Information on further casualties and damages are still pending, as the news from earthquake-impacted regions often take time to emerge.
* Neither Moroccan officials nor MAP, Morocco’s official news agency, had published any additional information about casualties or damages as of early Saturday.
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