Terrifying scenes pouring in from Morocco after devastating earthquake

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
9 Sep 2023 17:31

Social media activists are sharing shocking pictures and videos of buildings collapsing after a massive earthquake hit Morocco late Friday night.

A woman reacts standing in front of her earthquake-damaged house in the old city in Marrakesh on September 9, 2023 (AFP)

A strong earthquake that struck central Morocco, leaving hundreds dead and injured, has resulted in a humanitarian catastrophe and a trail of mass destruction, with entire neighborhoods demolished.

Activists on social media shared shocking pictures and videos of buildings collapsing after a huge earthquake hit Morocco late Friday night.

The footage depicted terrifying scenes of tall buildings collapsing in the tourist area of Marrakesh, 320 km south of the capital, Rabat.

🇲🇦 | URGENT: The death toll from the earthquake in Morocco rises to 820, according to state television.#ALERTA 🇲🇦#المغرب #مراكش #الداربيضاء #فاس #Morocco #fes #casablanca #Marrakesh #زلزال #earthquake 🇲🇦 | SISMO EN MARRUECOS: 🇲🇦 Major magnitude 6.9 earthquake - 75 km southwest… pic.twitter.com/o7o5y4cQQp
— Ape𝕏 (@Apex644864791) September 9, 2023

Feelings of solidarity poured in through different social media platforms as activists published videos and pictures of the earthquake under the hashtag #MoroccoEarthquake.

One video that was described as “painful", showed a Moroccan woman describing how she lost her husband and four children in the earthquake.

امرأة مغربية تتحدث عن وفاة زوجها وأطفالها الأربعة.

أسأل الله أن يلطف بهم ويعظم أجرهم ويصبرهم على ما أصابهم ويربط على قلوبهم ويشفي مرضاهم ويتقبل موتاهم شهداء ويجعل ما أصابهم تكفير ورفعة لهم في الدنيا والآخرة.

حفظ الله المغرب وأهل المغرب وعظم الله أجرهم 🇲🇦pic.twitter.com/FihqbX3fWH
— إياد الحمود (@Eyaaaad) September 9, 2023

Another painful video showed a Moroccan mother searching for her children under the rubble, beseeching God to ensure her children are safe, saying, “My heart is aching over my children.”

🚨🚨🚨🚨

دعواتكم لهذه الام فقدت ابنائها تحت الانقاض ربي يصبرها ويرحمهم 🤲🏻#المغربِ #مراكش #زلزال_المغربِ pic.twitter.com/IFkgbtT9b2
— عساف (@Sa91af) September 9, 2023

Meanwhile, health centers and hospitals made urgent appeals to donate blood to the victims. Circulated video clips showed how Moroccans immediately responded to the calls for blood donation, leaving medical centers packed with blood donors.

After the #Marrakesh Regional Blood Transfusion Center called for blood donations for victims of the deadly earthquake, Moroccans answered the call, as the Center was filled with people looking to donate blood.#Morocco #MoroccoEarthquake #المغرب #زلزال_المغرب #زلزال_مراكش… pic.twitter.com/B86f2048lZ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 9, 2023

A huge Arab and international humanitarian solidarity campaign was launched after the devastating earthquake, and many expressed their willingness to provide support.

Algerian journalist Hafid Derradji wished safety upon the people of Morocco, beseeching God to protect Morocco and its people.

لطفك بأهلنا في المغرب جراء الهزة الأرضية التي هزت إقليم الحوز مساء أمس و أودت بحياة العشرات رحمهم الله .
هي أرضه ، ونحن عباده ، والأمر كله بيده .
اللهم احفظ المغرب وشعبه وجميع المسلمين في كل مكان.
يارب pic.twitter.com/dOnAW0u1yp
— hafid derradji حفيظ دراجي (@derradjihafid) September 9, 2023

In a related context, several football clubs mourned the earthquake victims, most notably Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Manchester City, offering condolences to the Moroccan people and the families of the deceased.

يُعرب نادي ريال مدريد ورئيسه ومجلس إدارته عن تضامنهم مع ضحايا الزلزال الذي تعرض له المغرب في الساعات الأخيرة. ونتقدم بأحر التعازي لأهالي الضحايا ونتمنى الشفاء العاجل للمصابين. #ريال_مدريد
— ريال مدريد (@realmadridarab) September 9, 2023

Moroccan authorities announced, today, Saturday, that the death toll from the devastating earthquake exceeded 1,305 with 1,832 injured, 1,220 of which are in critical condition.

According to Moroccan state TV, as reported by Reuters, the death toll of the horrific earthquake has risen to 1,305 with 1,832 injured, 1,220 of which are in critical condition, as rescue operations continue in the hope of finding more survivors.#Morocco #MoroccoEarthquake… pic.twitter.com/hGUehoVsoL
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) September 9, 2023

Morocco & Libya Disasters

Natural disasters have struck North Africa; From a 7 magnitude earthquake that hit the province of al-Haouz, Morocco, to a catastrophic flooding breaking dams and sweeping away homes in Libya. In Morocco, the earthquake has killed more than 2,000 people and caused severe damage in several areas. Rescuers are digging through rubble in the remote mountains of Morocco in a desperate bid to find survivors from the deadliest earthquake to strike the country in decades. While 2,000 people have died and 10,000 are believed missing after Storm Daniel dumped so much rain on Libya’s northeast that two dams collapsed sending water flowing into already inundated areas.