According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), an estimated 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range Friday night soon after 11 p.m. local time. (6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.) The USGS also believes it reached depths of 11.4 miles and the epicenter was located approximately 44.7 miles south west of Marrakech, a popular tourist city that has about 840,000 people. The Moroccan agency believes it measured 7.2 magnitudes.
At least 1,037 were killed and more than 1,200 are injured currently. These numbers are expected to rise considerably in the days to come. King Mohammed VI of Morocco has assembled rescuers comprised of local authorities and the Moroccan military. They are racing to try and find any survivors amongst the rubble from buildings and structures. Search and rescue teams are having a difficult time getting through the remote villages that have been hit the hardest.
This is the first earthquake of this magnitude to hit this area of Morocco in more than 100 years. The United States, France and the Red Cross have offered assistance, but the Moroccan government hasn’t accepted, nor have they formerly asked for any help either yet.
By-FZ
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