Mag 7 Earthquake in Morocco just now!

Terribly sorry to hear this news and my thoughts are with those affected. Early measurements indicate the quake was between 6.8 and 7.0 on the Richter Scale, so at least ten times bigger than the 5.9 quake that destroyed Agadir in 1960, with more than 30 times the energy release.

The large loss of life (15,000 dead) in Agadir was due to the collapse of very basic housing constructed on softer ground. Building techniques have improved in the 60 years since then, nevertheless the death toll from yesterday's quake is already at 820 and looks likely to exceed 1,000.

Al Hoceima on the Mediterranean coast has also suffered major Richter 6.0+ earthquakes, in 1994 and again in 2004. Since then smaller quakes have been happening on a fairly regular basis in the Alboran Sea off the coast of Al Hoceima—with three minor quakes in the last 24 hours—but this is regarded as positive as these small shifts allow pressures to be released gently,

And I remember there was a 4.4 quake in Zaouiat Ahansal in the Ait Bougmez valley twelve years back.

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Earlier this morning the Ministry of the Interior updated the death toll to 820, almost half of which (394) are in the province of Al Haouz which was the epicentre of the quake. Al Haouz province lies to the immediate south of Marrakech and stretches from Amizmiz in the west, through the Test pass, Moulay Brahim, Imlil, Oukaimden, Ourika and the Tichka pass in the east.

271 deaths have been reported in the province of Taroudant, 91 in the province of Chichaoua (west of Marrakech), 31 in the province of Ouarzazate, 13 in the prefecture of Marrakech, 11 in the province of Azilal, 5 in the prefecture of Agadir, 3 in Greater Casablanca and 1 death in the province of Youssoufia (north of Marrakech).

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"For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)

A terrible tragedy. Hope every HUBB-er out in Morocco is safe!

Big call for blood donors in Marrakech of anyone can help.

We are speaking with local medical contacts in case any further assistance is required

Overlanding West Africa and Morocco has quite a number of members in the affected regions and the moment along with regular updates as the situation develops.

The British Moroccan Society has so far raised £29,000 in aid within a few hours, https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-m...thquake-appeal
but of course can use more!

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Grant Johnson
Seek, and ye shall find.
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Inspiring, Informing and Connecting travellers since 1997!
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

The villages alongside the Tizi n Test R203 have taken the brunt of it, as shown in Moulay Brahim just before Asni, a village with lots of tajineries where the river comes right alongside the 203 and focussed on by the media.
Google currently shows the epicentre 45km to the WSW of Moulay and the Test col is currently cut off.
If you know this road you'll recall up top on both sides of the col narrow sections are just a good storm away from a landslide, let alone a nearby earthquake.
I also read that in much bigger Asni (turn off for Imlil and Toubkal; but maybe the greater region) 90% of the houses are demolished, and in Ijoukak (last place before the col) 200 houses destroyed.
Just found this vid from Ijk shot on Saturday; 'the nearest town to the epicentre':
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/monde/af...e_6054686.html

I'm told the Tichka N9 to the east is open and undamaged.

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail