A powerful earthquake rattled Morocco late Friday, causing structural damage in major cities and prompting frightened residents to flee into the streets and alleyways from Rabat to Marrakech. There were no immediate reports of casualties.
The U.S. Geological Survey initially reported the quake as having a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it struck at 11:11 p.m. Meanwhile, Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network recorded it as a 7 on the Richter scale.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 56.3 kilometers (34.9 miles) west of Oukaimeden, a well-known ski resort nestled in the Atlas Mountains.
Early discrepancies in magnitude readings are common, but either figure would mark the most powerful earthquake in Morocco since 1960 when a magnitude 5.8 quake struck near Agadir, resulting in significant loss of life.
The epicenter of Friday’s tremor was situated in the highlands of the Atlas Mountains, south of Marrakech and to the west of Oukaimeden, a popular Moroccan skiing destination. It was also in close proximity to Toubkal, the highest peak in North Africa.
Videos shared by Moroccans depicted some buildings reduced to rubble. Tourists and locals also captured scenes of people evacuating restaurants in Marrakech while pulsating club music played in the background.
