Over 600 killed in devastating earthquake in Morocco, 329 injured

(Patria) - A strong earthquake hit Morocco late last night, destroying some buildings in several Moroccan cities and forcing people to leave their homes, and according to preliminary data from the Ministry of Interior, more than 630 people were killed and 329 people were injured.

The Moroccan Geophysical Center announced that the earthquake occurred in the Ighil region in the High Atlas Mountains with a magnitude of 7.2. The US Geological Survey estimated the earthquake's magnitude at 6.8 and said it was at a relatively shallow depth of 18.5 kilometers.

People in the streets

Marrakesh resident Brahim Himmi said he saw ambulances leaving the old city and added that many building facades were damaged. He said people were scared and stayed outside in case of another earthquake. "The chandelier fell from the ceiling and I ran out. I am still on the street with my children and we are afraid," said Houda Hafsi (43) in Marrakesh.

Another woman, Dalila Fahem, said there were cracks in her house and that the furniture was damaged. "Fortunately, I hadn't fallen asleep yet," she said. In Casablanca, about 250 km north of Ighil, people who spent the night on the streets were too afraid to return to their homes.

"The house shook violently, everyone was scared," said resident Mohamed Taqafi. "I thought only my house was moving because it is fragile and old. I heard people screaming, everyone came out of their houses."

Video footage shared on social media immediately after the earthquake shows people fearfully running out of a shopping center, restaurant, and residential buildings and gathering outside.

The US Geological Survey's PAGER system, which provides preliminary estimates of earthquake impacts, issued a red warning for economic losses. PAGER says there is a high probability of significant economic damage in Morocco following the devastating earthquake.

Rescue will be difficult

The death toll is expected to rise further after the earthquake that hit a third of Morocco, the BBC writes.

Reports indicate significant difficulties in reaching remote villages in the Atlas Mountains that were severely affected by the earthquake. It may take days before rescuers can reach these villages, which mostly consist of old buildings.

Even people on the Canary Islands off the coast of Morocco and in Algeria say they felt the earthquake, the BBC writes.