A rare and strong earthquake struck Marrakesh, a city in Morocco, killing more than 2,000 people, and injuring thousands along with affecting 300,000 people in the area. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the city on the 10th of September was the strongest earthquake since 1900 and the deadliest since 1960. The earthquake has devastated historical buildings like the Tinmel mosque as well as homes, forcing the citizens to sleep outside in the night.
The earthquake took place on Friday, September 8, 2023 at around 11:00 PM local time. The earthquake mostly impacted Marrakesh, a city located in the High Atlas Mountains which has a population of more than 800,000 people. Earthquakes occur when two tectonic plates build pressure and start moving against each other. The earthquake is thought to have been caused by an African plate shift clashing with an Eurasian plate. The magnitude of the earthquake is listed as 6.8. Earthquakes above the magnitude of 6 are known for causing significant damage and shaking. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring cities of Morocco and reached countries such as Algeria and Portugal.

A week after the earthquake, rescue efforts are continuing to search for survivors. Because the majority of the damage occurred in remote villages high in the Atlas Mountains, search and rescue is difficult due to lengthy treks. If you would like to help with recovery efforts you can donate online by clicking this link: https://www.unicefusa.org/stories/earthquake-morocco