Earthquake in Morocco kills at least 296 people.

SGGPO 09/09/2023 10:09

The Moroccan Interior Ministry said at least 296 people were killed and 153 others injured in the powerful earthquake that struck the country on the evening of September 8-9.

According to the ministry, most of the fatalities occurred in the provinces and cities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant. The injured were taken to hospitals for treatment.

Earlier, the German Geological Survey (GFZ) announced that a magnitude 7 earthquake had shaken Morocco at 10:10 PM on September 8th (5:10 AM on September 9th Hanoi time). The earthquake's epicenter was at a depth of 10 km, initially determined at coordinates 30.92 degrees North latitude and 8.42 degrees West longitude.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) also reported a 6.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred 56 km west of Oukaïmedene in Morocco. The earthquake struck at 10:11 PM on September 8th, with its epicenter at a depth of 18.5 km and coordinates at 31.11 degrees North latitude and 8.44 degrees West longitude.

According to witnesses, the earthquake shook many buildings in several cities, causing many people to panic and run into the streets.

In Marrakech, the largest city closest to the epicenter and a UNESCO World Heritage site, several buildings collapsed. Most of the fatalities occurred in the mountainous, inaccessible region. Many residents had to dig through the rubble by hand to rescue those trapped.

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/dong-dat-o-maroc-it-nhat-296-nguoi-tu-vong-post704905.html