Morocco earthquake leaves at least 2000 dead, injuring hundreds of others and damaging historic land

[bigheadfred]

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/morocco-earthquake-6-8-magnitude-marrakech-hundreds-killed/

UPDATED ON: SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 / 7:54 AM / CBS/AP

A powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing at least 820 people, injuring more than 670 others and damaging buildings and historic landmarks in major cities, according to Morocco's interior ministry.

In Marrakech, the famous 12th century Koutoubia Mosque suffered damage, but the extent was not immediately clear.

Morocco's Interior Ministry said early Saturday that at least 296 people had died in the provinces near the quake. Additionally, 153 injured people were sent to hospitals for treatment. The ministry wrote that most damage occurred outside of cities and towns.

Moroccans posted videos showing buildings reduced to rubble and dust, and parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, damaged. Tourists and others posted videos of people screaming and evacuating restaurants in the city as throbbing club music played.

More at link above

[PeteS in CA]

Powerful quake in Morocco kills more than 1,000 people and damages historic buildings in Marrakech

https://apnews.com/article/morocco-earthquake-marraskesh-7f4a503009dede0dec0208c08d6b100b

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. The full toll was not known as rescuers struggled to get through boulder-strewn roads to the remote mountain villages hit hardest.

People woken by the magnitude-6.8 quake ran into the streets in terror and disbelief. A man visiting a nearby apartment said dishes and wall hangings began raining down, and people were knocked off their feet and chairs. A woman described fleeing her house after an “intense vibration.’’ A man holding a child said he was jarred awake in bed by the shaking.

State television showed people clustered in the streets of Marrakech, afraid to go back inside buildings that might still be unstable. Many wrapped themselves in blankets as they tried to sleep outside.

[Gefn]

Thank you @bigheadfred for posting this. I saw it last night but I was in bed and couldn't post it.

[Wingnut]

Certainly it must have been caused  by climate change.

[PeteS in CA]

For perspective in strength and the effect on damage of building standards, the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake was magnitude 6.9, and was responsible for 63 deaths. It shook houses off their foundations in SF's Marina District and brought down an upper section of the 1936 SF-Oakland Bay Bridge and a section of the 1957 Cypress St. Structure of Interstate 880, but this was minor in comparison to this quake in Morocco.

Buildings made of un-reinforced masonry are not very flexible, and with enough shaking, they collapse. This probably happened a lot in Morocco. Third world countries are also inconsistent about having good building standards and enforcement thereof. That may also be a factor in Morocco's death toll.

Marrakech is in the heart of Northern Africa's Atlas Mountains, so it's probably in a significant seismic zone.

[Sighlass]

Morocco ... 99.6% Islamic (Sunni)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Barbary_War

Lot of big rock buildings probable dangerous with shaking.

[PeteS in CA]

The significance being ...?

[Sighlass]

The significance being ...?

I guess this was directed to me? I sometimes just make notes to myself. Seeing that I honestly lack background geography and history others have... I had to look up the country just to know where it was... some history came back to me as I did so.  If this is a problem I will refrain from commenting in this category (and others). @PeteS in CA

[Lando Lincoln]

I guess this was directed to me? I sometimes just make notes to myself. Seeing that I honestly lack background geography and history others have... I had to look up the country just to know where it was... some history came back to me as I did so.  If this is a problem I will refrain from commenting in this category (and others). @PeteS in CA

The heck you will!  That was a factual post that was informative for some who may not have background knowledge on the country.

Keep posting!

[mystery-ak]

Over 1,000 Dead Following Powerful 6.8 Earthquake in Morocco

Breitbart London 9 Sep 2023

MARRAKECH, Morocco (AP) — A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. The full toll was not known as rescuers struggled to get through boulder-strewn roads to the remote mountain villages hit hardest.

People woken by the magnitude-6.8 quake ran into the streets in terror and disbelief. A man visiting a nearby apartment said dishes and wall hangings began raining down, and people were knocked off their feet and chairs. A woman described fleeing her house after an “intense vibration.’’ A man holding a child said he was jarred awake in bed by the shaking.

State television showed people clustered in the streets of Marrakech, afraid to go back inside buildings that might still be unstable. Many wrapped themselves in blankets as they tried to sleep outside.

The quake was the biggest to hit Morocco in 120 years, and it toppled buildings and walls in ancient cities made from stone and masonry not designed to withstand quakes.

more
https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2023/09/09/over-800-dead-following-powerful-earthquake-in-moroccoat-least-800-dead-following-powerful-earthquake-in-morocco24916642/

[mystery-ak]

As a child we were stationed near Morocco at a USAF base...I remember MARRAKECH very well as my dad liked to buy and haggle with the sellers...

Nouasseur Air Base

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nouasseur_Air_Base

[PeteS in CA]

I guess this was directed to me? I sometimes just make notes to myself. Seeing that I honestly lack background geography and history others have... I had to look up the country just to know where it was... some history came back to me as I did so.  If this is a problem I will refrain from commenting in this category (and others). @PeteS in CA

It's obscure that Northern Africa is majority Muslim? But if this information is relevant to this earthquake and the current suffering in Morocco, I'd be curious to know.

If this is a problem I will refrain from commenting in this category (and others).

Please don't try to make me the issue in a public thread. If you really have a problem with my question, PM me and/or @mystery-ak.

[catfish1957]

Guessing 6.8 in that part of the world, is pretty catastrophic. 

[mystery-ak]

Residents stay out at a square in Marrakesh on September 9, 2023, after an earthquake. A powerful earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8 night has killed at least 632 people and injured 329 others, according to an updated interior ministry toll.

[Wingnut]

 Waiting  for Biden to let thousands  of displaced Morracans come to 'merica! 

[PeteS in CA]

A Getty Images picture in a Politico article showing rubble from collapsed stone or brick buildings:

[Gefn]

live updates here

https://www.cnn.com/middleeast/live-news/morocco-earthquake-09-09-2023/index.html

[Gefn]

CNN reporting death toll now 2,000.

speechless.

[Wingnut]

CNN reporting death toll now 2,000.

speechless.

Getting close to 9/11 death number totals. 

[mystery-ak]

CNN reporting death toll now 2,000.

speechless.

Wow...

[DCPatriot]

How did we get from "200 dead" to "2000 dead and counting..."?   

[PeteS in CA]

How did we get from "200 dead" to "2000 dead and counting..."?   

Large area in square miles, numerous buildings collapsed, burying people under hundreds or thousands of pounds of rubble, many towns' and villages' road connections are obstructed, discoveries being made continually, news outlets doing updates in near real time as they get information ... I doubt that an official death toll will be known for days or even weeks, and there probably will be a number of missing in 3 or 4 digits.

W'pedia gives Marrakesh's  2014 population as ~929,000.

[Gefn]

Morocco Earthquake Kills More Than 2,000

Temblor strikes High Atlas Mountains, less than 50 miles from Marrakesh; at least 2,050 injured

https://www.wsj.com/world/morocco-earthquake-kills-at-least-296-a431d3f9?mod=hp_lead_pos7

[PeteS in CA]

Morocco Earthquake’s Death Toll Mounts to 2,901

https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/09/357641/morocco-earthquakes-death-toll-mounts-to-2-901

Rabat - The number of people killed by the devastating earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8 reached 2,901 as of 1 p.m. on Tuesday, the latest official figures indicate, noting that about 2,884 of the victims have been buried.

The Ministry of Interior also announced an alarming increase in the number of injured victims. As of now, the number of injured victims is reported to have reached 5,530.

The Al Haouz region continues to record the majority of deaths, with the latest figures estimating the hardest-hit province’s victims to stand at 1,643.

The earthquake occurred in a mountainous area, with many towns and villages having poor road connection, so the death toll could still rise. The article makes no mention of missing persons, and there may be quite a few.

[Gefn]

Morocco earthquake death toll, map and more key details following 6.8 magnitude disaster


https://www.cbsnews.com/news/morocco-earthquake-2023-marrakech-map-death-toll-magnitude-when/