Morocco Earthquake today:
Morocco was struck by a powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake on September 8, 2023, at 22:11 UTC. The epicenter was located in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 kilometers (44 miles) southwest of Marrakech. The city most severely impacted by this seismic event is Marrakesh, which is home to approximately 840,000 residents. Numerous homes have reportedly collapsed, and other buildings have also suffered structural damage.
Morocco's earthquake death toll rises to nearly 3,000:
The epicentral area has a relatively low population. According to national media reports, the death toll reached at least 820 people as of midnight, and it is expected to rise throughout the day. The ERCC activated both the Copernicus satellite mapping service and Aristotle emergency reporting.
Tenzirt, a Moroccan village largely destroyed by the earthquake:
Residents of Tenzirt, a small town with 110 mud homes that were significantly damaged by the earthquake, have expressed frustration at having to dig "primitive" graves for their 22 "beloved neighbors." The earthquake has already claimed the lives of 22 local residents, with an additional 24 individuals sustaining fractures and other critical injuries. Delays in transferring them to hospitals in Marrakesh occurred after villagers rescued them from the rubble, using whatever tools they could find for digging.
Tenzirt is a challenging place to live, with difficult living conditions. Many young people feel discouraged due to isolation and limited opportunities for the future, prompting them to seek better prospects elsewhere.
Reason Behind the Morocco Earthquake:
The earthquake was caused by an oblique-reverse fault, which is typical near convergent plate boundaries experiencing compression. Earthquakes along these fault lines result from the sudden release of stored stress in rocks.
The Atlas Mountains, where the earthquake's epicenter was located, are actively rising due to the collision of two massive tectonic plates: the African and Eurasian plates.
Morocco is situated in a region where the tectonic plates of Africa and Eurasia are colliding. Despite the absence of documented earthquakes in the area, tension had been steadily accumulating beneath the surface due to the gradual displacement of these tectonic plates.
