Morocco: Powerful earthquake kills over 800; tremors felt till as far as Portugal

An earthquake of the magnitude 7.2 struck central Morocco late on Friday (Sep 8) killing hundreds of people and injuring many others.

At least 820 people confirmed to have died so far, most in remote mountainous areas. In a statement, Morocco's interior ministry said672 people were injured, including 205 in critical condition.

The tremors werefelt as far as Spain and Portugal. The epicenter of the earthquake is reported to be at Morocco's High Atlas mountains.

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Morocco's geophysical centre said the quake struck in the Ighil area of the High Atlas with a magnitude of 7.2. But the US Geological Survey put the quake's magnitude at 6.8 and said it was at a relatively shallow depth of 18.5 km (11.5 miles).

Videoswhich went viral on social media showedsignificant damage to buildings.

Residents of Marrakech, the nearest major city to the epicentre, said some buildings had collapsed in the old city.

Marrakech's old city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is one of the top attractions for tourists in the country.

A local television news footage showed pictures of a fallen mosque minaret with rubble lying on smashed cars.

Morocco earthquake: Casualties and scale of devastation

Pan-Arab al-Arabiya news channel reported that five people were killed from one family.

The local Goud.ma news publication reported up to 50 people had died, citing unnamed officials in the earthquake-hit region.

"The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor," said Hamid Afkir, a teacher in a mountainous area west of the epicenter near Taroudant, adding there had been aftershocks, Reuters reported.

Another Marrakech resident, Brahim Himmi, told Reuters that he saw ambulances coming out of the old town and many building facades damaged.

He said people were frightened and were staying outside in case of aftershocks.

People in the capital Rabat, about 350 km (220 miles) north of Ighil, and in the coastal town of Imsouane, about 180 km to its west, also fled their homes, fearing a stronger quake, according to Reuters.

Morocco earthquake: India's PM Modi reacts

India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is stewarding the G20 Summit in New Delhi, took to X, and expressed condolences to the lives lost in Morocco.

"Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time," Modi said.

Prime Minister Modi, while inaugurating the first session of G20 leaders, expressed solidarity with Moroccan authorities as locals in the North African nation scrambled to rescue its citizens stuck under rubble in remote mountainous areas.

(With inputs from agencies)

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