More than 600 dead, several injured in Earthquake hit Morocco

A powerful earthquake of 6.8 Magnitude hit Morocco on Friday night around 11PM. The tremors lasted several seconds.  Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured the magnitude as 7.  The earthquake was so powerful, that it was felt even in Portugal.

The interior Ministry of Morocco said that nearly 600 people died in disaster in provinces near the earthquake. Additionally 329 people have faced injuries. these people are sent to hospitals for treatment.  The Authorities are yet to discover the actual scale of damages.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the Atlas Mountains which is 70Kms south of Marrakech. the epicenter was also in Toubkal, the highest peak of North Africa.

The Ministry has urged the public to maintain calm while giving information about the death toll caused by earthquake in the province of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

rime Minister Modi also expressed his grief and Condolences on Twitter by saying "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."

People living in Marrakech, the closest major city to the epicenter, reported that several buildings in the historic old city, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, had crumbled. Local television broadcasted images of a mosque minaret that had toppled, with debris scattered across damaged cars.

According to officials, most deaths were reported in Mountain Areas, which are hard to reach. Kutubiyya Mosque also Collapsed in Morocco.

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