Earthquake Hit Marrakesh 632 Confirmed Dead Many Trapped Under The Rubble

Hospitals in Marrakesh reportedly saw a “massive influx” of injured people.   The regional blood transfusion centre in Marrakesh has called on residents to donate blood for those injured.

Frenchman Michael Bizet, 43, who owns three traditional riad houses in Marrakesh’s old town, told AFP that he had been in bed at the time of the quake. 

“I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was total chaos, a real catastrophe, madness,” he said.

A powerful earthquake has rocked Morocco, damaging buildings in major cities and killing hundreds of people.

The death toll had reached 632 by Saturday morning, with the most fatalities expected to be recorded in the Al Haouz province south of Marrakech where at least one family was still trapped under the rubble of their house. About 329 people were being treated for injuries. 

The latest toll came from state TV said, quoting the interior ministry. 

Strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.

“We felt a very violent tremor, and I realised it was an earthquake,” Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old in Marrakesh, told AFP. 

“I could see buildings moving. We don’t necessarily have the reflexes for this type of situation. Then I went outside and there were a lot of people there. People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying and the parents were distraught. 

“The power went out for 10 minutes, and so did the (telephone) network, but then it came back on,” he added. “Everyone decided to stay outside.”

Faisal Baddour, an engineer, said he felt the earthquake three times in his building. 

“People went out into the street just after this total panic, and there are families who are still sleeping outside because we were so scared of the force of this earthquake,” he said. “It was as if a train was passing close to our houses.”

Michael Bizet, 43

The 43-year-old shared video of piles of rubble from collapsed walls in the streets. Footage on social media also showed part of a minaret collapsed on the famous Jemaa el-Fna square in the historic city. 

Fayssal Badour, another Marrakesh resident, told AFP he was driving when the earthquake hit. 

“I stopped and realised what a disaster it was... The screaming and crying was unbearable,” he said. 

The interior ministry said authorities have “mobilised all the necessary resources to intervene and help the affected areas”.