Marrakech, one of Morocco’s jewels and a historically enriching city, has been shaken to its foundations. Late in the afternoon of last Friday, a powerful earthquake left at least 296 dead and multiple damages to the city’s infrastructure, especially in the old city, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. The earthquake had its epicenter 75 km west of this important economic metropolis.
Through various videos shared on social networks, many Moroccans and tourists present shared the magnitude of the disaster. The images and videos show buildings that, in seconds, have suffered damage of varying degrees.
But not only modern buildings felt the impact; The iconic red walls that have protected and surrounded Marrakech for generations also showed clear signs of having been shaken by the earthquake.
In one of the most shocking clips, two men who were enjoying a chat on the public road got up and ran when they perceived the beginning of the tremor. Other people who were fleeing passed through that same point. In a matter of seconds, the place where they were sitting was invaded by debris falling from the buildings, showing that they saved their lives for just a few seconds.
Likewise, another shared video shows diners at a restaurant leaving behind their dinners, overturned chairs and abandoned tables in the midst of panic. At the same time, thanks to an Indian blogger who was in the area, they were able to see the damage up close in some areas of the city hardest hit by the earthquake.
This natural disaster is completely unexpected. One of this magnitude had not been seen in the immediate area for more than 120 years. The last major earthquake to hit Morocco occurred in 2004 and caused more than 600 deaths. The quake, known as the Al Hoceima earthquake, occurred at an active plate boundary on the country’s northernmost coast, next to the western Mediterranean. It had a magnitude of 6.3.