Tragedy struck the country of Morocco late Friday night as a 6.8 magnitude earthquake caused tremendous amounts of damage, countless lives lost and hundreds of thousands displaced and homeless.
With the toll at over 2000 dead and rising, this tragedy has sent shockwaves throughout the region as we try to come to terms with the devastation left behind.
President Biden released a statement expressing his sadness and offering assistance, though it will take time to assess just how much aid is needed.
The quake was centered southwest of Marrakech near Toubkal – North Africa’s highest peak – and Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort.
In Marrakech itself, videos posted by tourists showed people screaming and evacuating restaurants as buildings swayed beneath them.
Tourists also reported damage to parts of the city’s famous 12th century Koutoubia Mosque which is known for its 226-foot minaret – ‘the roof of Marrakech’ – though it is unclear just how extensive this damage may be.
CBS News medical contributor Dr. Celine Gounder shared photos from the city’s ancient center showing damaged buildings and streets; some areas were less affected but older structures were inaccessible due to debris blocking off roads.
As well as Marrakech, remote villages like those in Ouargane Valley have been hard hit by the earthquake with reports suggesting electricity and cell phone service have been lost there leaving these communities isolated from outside help.
People are mourning their neighbors who have died while surveying the destruction with camera phones before telling one another “May God save us” as they struggle to cope with such devastating losses so suddenly thrust upon them.
Many survivors lack financial means for rebuilding their homes which makes recovering more difficult still; elderly mountain guide Hamid Idsalah said he felt heartsick at losing his home without any way of reconstructing it but acknowledged he was lucky enough simply to be alive despite such hardships faced by his community at large right now.
People were quick to react once tremors began shaking buildings sending terrified residents rushing out into streets where they remained for fear of further aftershocks or other reverberations damaging their homes even further still if they returned inside too soon afterwards.
Professor Bill McGuire from University College London warned that the final death toll could climb into the thousands once better understanding of situation becomes clear given the nature of seismic activity here plus the fact that building construction is not sufficiently strong enough yet to cope effectively with the ground shaking.
