Big Quake in Morocco
 

Mag 7 Earthquake in Morocco just now!

Terribly sorry to hear this news and my thoughts are with those affected. Early measurements indicate the quake was between 6.8 and 7.0 on the Richter Scale, so at least ten times bigger than the 5.9 quake that destroyed Agadir in 1960, with more than 30 times the energy release.

The large loss of life (15,000 dead) in Agadir was due to the collapse of very basic housing constructed on softer ground. Building techniques have improved in the 60 years since then, nevertheless the death toll from yesterday's quake is already at 820 and looks likely to exceed 1,000.

Al Hoceima on the Mediterranean coast has also suffered major Richter 6.0+ earthquakes, in 1994 and again in 2004. Since then smaller quakes have been happening on a fairly regular basis in the Alboran Sea off the coast of Al Hoceima—with three minor quakes in the last 24 hours—but this is regarded as positive as these small shifts allow pressures to be released gently,

And I remember there was a 4.4 quake in Zaouiat Ahansal in the Ait Bougmez valley twelve years back.

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Earlier this morning the Ministry of the Interior updated the death toll to 820, almost half of which (394) are in the province of Al Haouz which was the epicentre of the quake. Al Haouz province lies to the immediate south of Marrakech and stretches from Amizmiz in the west, through the Test pass, Moulay Brahim, Imlil, Oukaimden, Ourika and the Tichka pass in the east.

271 deaths have been reported in the province of Taroudant, 91 in the province of Chichaoua (west of Marrakech), 31 in the province of Ouarzazate, 13 in the prefecture of Marrakech, 11 in the province of Azilal, 5 in the prefecture of Agadir, 3 in Greater Casablanca and 1 death in the province of Youssoufia (north of Marrakech).

A terrible tragedy. Hope every HUBB-er out in Morocco is safe!

Big call for blood donors in Marrakech of anyone can help.

We are speaking with local medical contacts in case any further assistance is required

Overlanding West Africa and Morocco has quite a number of members in the affected regions and the moment along with regular updates as the situation develops.

The British Moroccan Society has so far raised £29,000 in aid within a few hours, https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-m...thquake-appeal
but of course can use more!

The villages alongside the Tizi n Test R203 have taken the brunt of it, as shown in Moulay Brahim just before Asni, a village with lots of tajineries where the river comes right alongside the 203 and focussed on by the media.
Google currently shows the epicentre 45km to the WSW of Moulay and the Test col is currently cut off.
If you know this road you'll recall up top on both sides of the col narrow sections are just a good storm away from a landslide, let alone a nearby earthquake.
I also read that in much bigger Asni (turn off for Imlil and Toubkal; but maybe the greater region) 90% of the houses are demolished, and in Ijoukak (last place before the col) 200 houses destroyed.
Just found this vid from Ijk shot on Saturday; 'the nearest town to the epicentre':
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/af...e_6054686.html

I'm told the Tichka N9 to the east is open and undamaged.

The Test was blocked by landslides in 3 places yesterday but work was underway to clear so emergency services can get in. The road to Oukamedan is similar.

Tinmal Mosque has been extensively damaged

The whole area in now closed with only military or emergency service access.

Ambulances Marrakesh have a campaign raising money to buy blankets

Just a sad, sad event to happen to such wonderful people, and such a beautiful Country.


Been to those parts many times, beggars believe that you could lose your whole family and house overnight when you didn't have much in the first place.


I hope this doesn't break forum rules;
https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appea...thquake-appeal


Safe travels!

I presume all the paparazzi clustered at Moulay Brahim have buggered off to Lybia.

Does anyone know the extent of damage around Taraoudant,Ouazarzate and Telouet?

I just heard from a guy from Agouim, nearer than Telourt, and his place is undamaged.
Taroudant and Ouarzazate don't really know. I think more damage in the former town but nothing like the ruined villages along the R203.

How morbid of me to put a Like on such a sad post. News from the South side has been so sparse.Even MWN Today appears not to have been there to report :(

Graphics seem to show the force propagated northward which may explain why there is little to report from south of the watershed. But Taroudant does seem to be on that southern arm.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/976/cp...y_2x640-nc.png

Peter Buitelaar was in the mountains when the quake happened but I think perhaps nearer the Tessaout valley. His house in Ouarzazate is pisé ground floor with a steel shell supporting the two upper stories. "On the outside, except for some cracks, our house looked fairly undamaged but inside we discovered such destruction that we decided to move back into the mountains. Safer in our roof tent."

Taroudannt was affected by the quake but the biggest issue now is that it’s being used as a base for the emergency operations.

Ouazazate wasn’t affected significantly from what we’ve seen and heard from reliable sources.

Over the weekend we will cross the Atlas to Marrakech to the east of the affected area.

Lots of people talking of cancelling trips but Morocco is asking people not to cancel.

Reports of scam Gofundme etc campaigns are coming in. Shame people see events like this as an opportunity to earn money

The largest aftershock so far has been a tremor measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale which occurred near Amizmiz. Richter is a base-10 logarithmic scale, so the original 7.0 earthquake was over 150 times bigger than this aftershock and released almost 2,000 times the energy.

Nevertheless, even minor aftershocks are dangerous when they occur in areas already severely damaged as they can bring down already unstable buildings which is what happened in Amizmiz (I don't know whether this aftershock was noticed in Marrakech, but it was felt in Merzouga).

The government believes 50,000 homes have been damaged in the earthquake and has announced households will receive an emergency grant of 30,000 dh. In addition direct financial aid of 140,000 dh will be provided for fully collapsed homes and 80,000 dh for partially collapsed. The government has stressed the reconstruction will respect the region's architectural heritage.

Amongst the badly damaged buildings are five of the six of the boarding houses built by Education For All, a charity which provides schooling for girls in the remote rural mountain areas. The charity was started by Mike McHugo of Kasbah Toubkal who was honoured with a British award for his charitable work.


Damage to the boarding houses

Major advances have been made in the last couple of decades with 25,000 km of new asphalt roads replacing dirt roads, with electricity available almost everywhere, and with 'town water' supplies replacing hand-dug wells, nevertheless not all villages are completely served, and King Mohammed VI has called for a comprehensive program to strengthen infrastructure and public services in the affected regions.