Morocco Earthquake: A magnitude 6.8 earthquake slammed central Morocco late Friday, leaving a trail of devastation and sorrow.
The Moroccan Interior Ministry reported early Saturday that 296 people have died in the areas surrounding the epicentre, with an additional 153 people injured and being transported to hospitals for treatment.
The vast bulk of damage was said to have happened in rural areas rather than urban areas.
Despite the gloomy statistics, the entire amount of the devastation has still to be determined as authorities deal with the fallout from this earthquake.
The earthquake not only sent shockwaves through the Moroccan people, but it also drew sympathies and offers of support from politicians all around the world.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his heartfelt condolences for the awful loss of life caused by the earthquake.
He expressed his sympathies to the devastated families and solidarity with the Moroccan people on the microblogging network X (previously Twitter).
He further stated that India is ready to help Morocco with whatever assistance that is required during this difficult time.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 when it struck at 11:11 p.m. (2211 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey, with the vibrations lasting several seconds.
The earthquake had a rating of 7 on the Richter scale, according to Morocco's National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network.
After that, a magnitude-4.9 aftershock struck 19 minutes later. It is worth mentioning that early measurement differences are typical, but regardless of the particular magnitude, this earthquake ranks among the strongest to have struck Morocco in recent years.
While earthquakes are relatively rare in North Africa, the region has previously suffered strong shocks. A severe magnitude 5.8 earthquake happened near Agadir in 1960, killing hundreds of people.
The epicentre of Friday's earthquake occurred high in the Atlas Mountains, around 70 kilometres (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech.
This area also includes Toubkal, North Africa's highest peak, and Oukaimeden, a prominent Moroccan ski resort.
According to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was 18 kilometres (11 miles) beneath the Earth's surface, but Morocco's seismic agency put it at 8 kilometres (5 miles).
Despite the magnitude of the earthquake, Moroccan officials and MAP, the country's official news agency, were yet to provide detailed details on casualties and damages as of early Saturday.
This agency is typically used by government officials to provide crucial information regarding major events.
The earthquake's influence was felt beyond Moroccan boundaries, with tremors reported in Portugal and Algeria.
Both the Portuguese Institute of Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria's Civil Defence confirmed that the earthquake had an impact in their respective nations.
