The main tremor occurred at 11:11 PM local time, with its epicenter near the town of Ighil (in the Atlas Mountains), about 70 km southwest of the city of Marrakech. This earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8 (EMSC), was followed by an aftershock 20 minutes later, with a magnitude of 4.9. The effects were felt not only in Morocco, but also in neighboring countries such as Portugal, Spain, Mali, and Algeria.
The highest number of deaths was recorded in the province of Al Haouz, with 1,684 confirmed victims, closely followed by Taroudant, where 980 people lost their lives. In the city of Marrakech, 18 deaths were confirmed. The devastation caused by the earthquake is impressive, with more than 56,000 homes in 2,930 locations in southern Morocco affected. The emergency response mobilized quickly, but it took time to reach some difficult-to-access mountainous areas, as well as several regions near Marrakech.
The UNESCO World Heritage city of Marrakech suffered significant damage, including to the old city, where the iconic red walls were virtually destroyed.
