Breaking! High-powered earthquake kills at least 296 people in Morocco

Breaking! High-powered earthquake kills at least 296 people in Morocco

 

 

 

 

MOROCCO– At least 296 people have been killed following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, officials have said. Many of the fatalities are said to be in hard-to-reach areas south of Marrakech.

 

 

 

 According to official information, at least 296 people died in a severe earthquake in Morocco overnight. In addition, 153 injured people were taken to hospitals for treatment. Most of the damage occurred outside the cities. Images and videos from social networks show destroyed buildings in cities and people sitting on the streets.

 

 

 

The US Earthquake Observatory USGS said the quake had a magnitude of 6.8 and occurred at a depth of 18.5 kilometers, a good 70 kilometers southwest of Marrakech and 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Taroudant. The epicenter was in the Atlas Mountains. The geophone at the Helmholtz Center Potsdam reported the magnitude of the earthquake as 6.9. A short time later, the US authorities reported an aftershock with a magnitude of 4.9. According to eyewitness accounts, the earthquake caused panic in Marrakesh, Agadir and other cities.