A rare and formidable earthquake jolted Morocco, causing residents to hastily vacate their beds and seek refuge in the streets. It also resulted in the collapse of structures in mountainous villages and ancient cities that were ill-equipped to withstand such a powerful seismic event.

The casualty count surpassed 2,000 lives lost, with expectations of further increases as rescue teams encountered significant challenges while attempting to access remote areas that had borne the brunt of the disaster.

Measuring at magnitude 6.8, this earthquake marked the most potent to strike the North African nation in over a century, the Associated Press reported.

Late Friday, panic and disbelief propelled people out of their homes, with one eyewitness describing how dishes and wall decorations showered down, leaving individuals disoriented and knocked off balance.

The quake’s impact led to the disintegration of walls constructed from stone and masonry, burying entire communities under heaps of debris.

The widespread devastation unfolded similarly in each town situated along the High Atlas’ treacherous and serpentine mountain roads.

Homes crumbled inward, while grieving parents watched as the deceased were carried through the streets by young boys and helmet-clad police officers.

Isolated villages, such as those in the drought-ridden Ouargane Valley, found themselves disconnected from the rest of the world as they grappled with the loss of electricity and cellphone coverage.

As noon approached, residents gathered outdoors, grieving for their neighbors, capturing the extent of the devastation with their mobile phones, and exchanging heartfelt sentiments like, “May God save us.”

Written by staff