Devastation in Morocco

On September 8, 2023, an earthquake of 6.8-6.9 magnitude hit the Marrakech–Safi region of Morocco. The earthquake hit at around 11:11 P.M. resulting in nearly 3,000 deaths and the displacement of many families.  The epicenter was situated 342 miles south of the boundary between the African and Eurasian tectonic plates (large slabs of rock that divide Earth’s crust), in the northwestern region of the African Plate. 

The African Plate, whose northwest margin stretches beneath the western Mediterranean Sea, moves roughly 0.2–0.4 inches (about 4–10 mm) northward per year; however, at the earthquake’s epicenter, the African Plate is moving roughly 0.1 inch (3.6 mm) west–south westerly per year.

Junior Esrom Dawit had a lot to say about the earthquake due to his Moroccan descent. When asked his opinion on the matter, he stated, “it’s been devastating, so many lives lost, it’s just a hard time for Moroccan families.” isolated mountain villages of Morocco’s Al Haouz area have felt the most damage from the earthquake.

In this area, unreinforced brick and masonry were almost exclusively used to create homes and other structures, and local construction codes were either lenient or entirely ignored. The devastation was particularly severe in Amizmiz, a town in the mountains about 20 miles northeast of the earthquake’s epicenter; much of the town was destroyed, and emergency personnel feared that as many as 2,000 people may have perished under the weight of falling debris and collapsing walls.  

The damage to surrounding villages was also extreme. The hardest hit districts were located along rocky inaccessible hillsides and valleys, and boulders and various debris left various routes and roads throughout Morocco impassable. Therefore, relief efforts were postponed, making it extremely difficult for heavy machinery, emergency services, and rescue teams to help with the damages and support of the families impacted by the earthquake.  

The Moroccan government faced backlash for how they handled relief efforts in the days after the catastrophe. Some victims of the earthquake were frustrated with what they viewed as the government’s lack of action in sending aid to families and victims. The Moroccan government also gained more backlash for selectively accepting aid from different countries. Spain, Qatar, Britain, and The United Arab Emirates search and rescue teams were allowed entry, while France, Germany, Tunisia, Canada, and the United States were not. Overall, the Moroccon earthquakes were devastating but the government took action to help combat the harm caused and the country is working to rebuild since this tragedy.