By Nehitha Jayakumar
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck 75 km west of Marrakesh, Morocco late Friday night. The quake is the strongest to hit the nation in over 100 years. The earthquake has claimed over 2,000 lives and left thousands more injured. The desperate search for survivors in the rubble continues as emergency workers try to reach people in remote villages. Among the locals in Morocco, thousands of tourists who visit the historic city of Marrakech every year were caught in the earthquake. Authorities warned residents to pay close attention to aftershocks, and therefore many families and tourists were forced to spend Saturday night out in the open.
This powerful earthquake’s epicenter was located near Marrakech, Morocco, but its effects were felt as far north as Casablanca. The quake left many historic buildings and landmarks in the city of Marrakech in ruins. An earthquake such as this would already be classified as being “strong,” but since it struck relatively shallow in depth, its effects were amplified. According to experts, the epicenter of the earthquake was roughly 18.5 km below the Earth’s surface. Generally, the closer you get to the surface, the greater the effect of the rupture, since the seismic waves have a shorter distance to travel.
Another reason for the extent of damage the earthquake caused is because how unprepared Morocco was for a quake of this size. Earthquakes are generally not very common in Northern Africa, where seismicity rates are low. Therefore, the residents and leaders of the region were not prepared for one—which resulted in disaster when it struck. Many civilians who lived in poor villages just 45 kilometers north of the epicenter lived in homes built of clay, brick, and cinder block—all of which didn’t stand a chance against the powerful tremors of this earthquake.
Many other nations are providing aid to Morocco in this time of crisis. The United Kingdom sent 60 search and rescue specialists to Morocco to help search for survivors. France and Spain have also joined the growing list of foreign countries to provide Morocco with rescue teams and resources such as food, water, and temporary shelters for those affected by the earthquake. US President Joe Biden said in a Saturday statement that it has been ensured that all United States citizens in the country are safe and will stand by other nations to provide assistance to Morocco. Pope Francis in Vatican City offered prayers and solitary on Sunday for those who were affected by the earthquake. “I pray for the injured, for those who have lost their lives, so many of them, and for their relatives,” he said, speaking to crowds in St. Peter’s Square.
Morocco’s royal palace officially declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the earthquake and that all flags on public buildings should fly at half-mast in honor of those who have died.
