Dream - On Friday night, September 8, 2023, a devastating earthquake struck Morocco. The earthquake claimed more than 2,800 lives and affected over 100,000 children according to initial reports. The deadly earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday night, September 8, continues to have worrying impacts, including the loss of thousands of lives. This deadly earthquake has caused both material and human losses. Various videos and images document the heartbreaking events that occurred in less than a minute.

Everything started a little slower than 11pm on Friday night. The impact was lighter in the southern and northern regions and some cities, but too strong in other areas such as El Haouz and Taroudant – where the number of casualties increased. The provinces and prefectures that experienced the most severe damage were Al Haouz, Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate. Marrakesh, Casablanca, Youssoufia, and Tinghir also recorded casualties and material damage.

Civil services provide assistance after a devastating earthquake. Residents in Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Kenitra, and Fez reported feeling the earthquake. Many people in the area also evacuated their homes as a precaution in case of aftershocks or further damage. Many individuals who only experienced a small tremor assumed that the earthquake had ended and that there would be no further damage. What happened next exceeded the expectations of many people. Videos and images of desperate individuals started circulating online, and many called on Moroccan authorities to intervene and take necessary action.

Friday, September 8, 2023, until Saturday morning, September 9, 2023. Friday night until Saturday morning feels like an endless nightmare due to the heartbreaking moments experienced by millions of people during the earthquake. Several videos show thousands of people evacuating in the open air, some of them choosing to evacuate due to fear of potential new earthquake shocks, while others are forced to do so because their homes were destroyed by the earthquake. Many also shared their suffering on social media, urging authorities to intervene immediately and criticizing the lack of medical assistance - including ambulances.

At that moment, those who only felt slight vibrations understood the true scale of the disaster. Around 02.00, the community became aware of the shocking impact of the earthquake, and the Ministry of Home Affairs released initial data. The initial data stated that the number of fatalities was 296 and 153 people were injured - figures that triggered sympathy and concern throughout the country. The number was later updated at 7 a.m., when the official death toll increased to 632, while the injured reached 329.

Currently, the data shows that the Al Haouz province is the most affected area, followed by Taroudant, Chichaoua, and Ouarzazate. The reason is that the houses in those areas are mostly made of clay and stones, without adequate concrete reinforcement. The victims took to the streets as a shelter due to the earthquake. The affected areas include Marrakesh, Azilal, Agadir, and Casablanca according to data released at 7 am. This has triggered more concerns and frustrations from both domestic and international sources, with messages of solidarity and sympathy flowing from all over the world.

Video and images also show many people offering assistance, and many are helping the civil protection and rescue team to assist and identify potential victims under the rubble. Saturday, September 9, 2023, Government Intervention On Saturday morning, the Royal Armed Forces of Morocco received urgent instructions from King Mohammed VI, calling for the mobilization of human and logistical resources in large numbers to assist the affected community in the earthquake. The deployment includes aerial and ground assets as well as rescue teams, in addition to field hospitals for medical and surgical purposes.

Many world leaders also expressed condolences and sympathy to the earthquake victims, including Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and US President Joe Biden. Leaders of Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Qatar also showed solidarity and emphasized their commitment to offer necessary assistance. Saturday afternoon was also marked by a dedicated working session on the latest developments, including the steps taken to address this crisis. King Mohammed VI led the working session, which was characterized by the presence of many high-ranking officials and ministers providing guidance to the royal authorities on the ongoing measures.

In the meeting, King Muhammad VI declared three days of mourning and other instructions, including the establishment of a special bank account by the Department of Finance and Bank Al-Maghrib to receive donations from citizens and private and public institutions who want to help. The King also called for economic actors to immediately resume activities in affected areas and ensure the full mobilization of the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation, with all its components, to support the affected residents. These measures also aim to create reserves and stockpiles of basic needs, including medicines, tents, beds, and food in all affected regions.

King Mohammed VI also instructed the Minister of Waqf and Islamic Affairs to perform Ghaib prayer in all mosques throughout Morocco, for the peace of the souls of the victims. Saturday also marked a continuous increase in the official death toll, which rose to 1,305 at 7 pm local time. The number of injured victims also increased to 1,832 people, including 1,220 people in critical condition. The Ministry of Interior updated the figures around 10 pm, announcing that the death toll had jumped to 2,012, while 2,059 people were injured. The injured victims include

Sunday, September 10, 2023 Eyewitnesses in Marrakesh announced that a 4.5 magnitude Richter scale earthquake was felt in the city and its surrounding areas on Sunday morning. This happened amidst ongoing suffering as people continue to mourn the deaths of thousands of individuals. Videos and images of people sharing their grief and discussing the number of casualties caused by the earthquake also continue to spread on social media. The US and UK embassies in Rabat join Morocco in mourning, lowering their flags to half-mast as a symbol of respect. Today is marked by the Ghaib prayer in all mosques throughout the country, for the peace of the souls of the victims during the Zuhr prayer.

The Ministry of Home Affairs updated the number of casualties on Sunday afternoon, announcing that the death toll reached 2,122, while the number of injured victims increased to 2,421. The Al Haouz region continues to top the list of regions with the highest number of deaths, with 1,351 people losing their lives due to the earthquake. As the number of fatalities continues to rise, efforts and mobilization have been deployed to continue assisting in rescuing both those still trapped under the rubble and those who have lost their homes. On Sunday, the Ministry of Education in Morocco also announced the suspension of classes in all affected communities and areas to help those in need.

The same day also marked the release of information from the Bank regarding the Moroccan bank account launched to address the earthquake and collect donations to help those in need. Sunday also marked the arrival of rescue teams from many countries such as Qatar, England, and Spain, all of which have offered assistance to Morocco in dealing with the earthquake crisis, in addition to several other countries. Several days after the earthquake, there was also an outpouring of solidarity from many organizations, including heads of state and government of the European Union, who sent letters to King Mohammed VI to convey condolences and sympathy to the victims and all Moroccan citizens.

Monday, September 11, 2023 The events on Monday, September 11, began in Morocco with a series of official government meetings, including a meeting led by Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch. In the meeting, the government committee discussed plans to rebuild the demolished houses in accordance with the instructions of the kingdom. That day also marked the establishment of temporary medical facilities in the Al Haouz region, which accounted for the majority of earthquake-related deaths. Throughout the day, the number of fatalities increased to 2,497 people in the morning, while the number of injured reached 2,476 people.

On the same evening, the number of fatalities jumped to 2,681 people, and the number of injured victims reached 2,501 people. Several hours later, the death toll increased to 2,862 at 7 p.m. On the same day, UNICEF conveyed alarming figures, estimating that the number of children affected by the earthquake reached 100,000 children. Tuesday, September 12, 2023. The rescue operation entered its fourth day with renewed solidarity and enthusiasm from all Moroccan citizens as well as global support. In the evening, the number of fatalities increased to 2,901 people, while the number of injured victims exceeded 5,500 people.

The major update noted on Tuesday was King Mohammed VI's visit to Marrakesh to assess all actions implemented so far as part of the national efforts to address the impact of the earthquake. The King also visited the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Marrakesh to see the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Al Haouz and evaluate the relief efforts. He visited the hospital's intensive care unit as well as the unit dedicated to treating earthquake victims. He also donated his blood for the benefit of the injured victims.

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On the 21st and 22nd of January 1909, an earthquake struck and destroyed the Ghomara Douars (5 km from Tetouan), claiming the lives of 100 people. On the 4th of January 1929, Outat El Haj and Fes were severely damaged due to an earthquake. On the 29th of February 1960, a powerful earthquake destroyed the city of Agadir, claiming the lives of 12,000 people and causing damages worth 290 million dollars. The latest disaster occurred on Friday night, September 8th, 2023. This is clearly a nightmare for Morocco. And also the world. (eha) Source: Morroco World News, Atlas Magazine, UNICEF