The earthquake in Morocco, the most destructive in six decades, caused more than 1000 deaths and hundreds of injuries, Buildings and houses were also destroyed in mountain villages, where rescuers searched for survivors among the rubble.

An earthquake struck Morocco’s high Atlas region late Friday, damaging historic buildings in Morocco. Marrakesh, the city closest to the epicenterbut the worst affected areas were in the nearby mountains.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs reported this. 1,037 people were killed and another 672 were injured The earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8 and its epicenter was about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakesh, according to the US Geological Survey.

In the village of Amizmiz, located near the epicenter, rescuers collected garbage with their bare hands.

“When I felt the ground shaking under my feet and the house tilting, I ran after the children. But my neighbors couldn’t“Said Mohamed Azaw. “Unfortunately, none of this family was found alive. “They found the father and son dead, and they are still searching for the mother and daughter.”

About 20 men, including firefighters and soldiers in uniform, were at the ruins of a house in Amizmiz, trying to remove debris, pieces of carpet and furniture which protruded from the cracks between the concrete floors.

In Marrakech, where 13 deaths are confirmedResidents spent the night outdoors, afraid to return home, as a mosque minaret fell in Jemaa al-Fna Square, the heart of the old city declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Everything is according to the will of God, but we suffered a lot of damage“Said Milud Skrut, a resident.

About 150 people, especially relatives of the victims, They waited outside the local hospital.. Most of them came from mountainous areas on the outskirts of the city, as local residents do not have the means to help seriously injured people.

“I still can’t sleep at home because of the commotion and also because the old town is made up of old houses. If one falls, the rest will collapse,” said resident Jauhari Mohamed, describing desperate scenes as people fled for shelter.

Local television showed footage Wrecks of broken cars.

The Interior Ministry called for calm and said in a televised statement that the earthquake had shaken the provinces Al-Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakesh, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

Montasir Itri, a resident of the mountain village of Asni near the epicenter, said most houses were damaged. “Our neighbors are under rubble and people are making every effort to save them using the means available in the village,” he said. Further west, near Taroudant, Professor Hamid Afkar said he fled his home and felt the tremors. “The ground shook for about 20 seconds. “The doors opened and closed on their own as I escaped from the second floor,” he said.

According to the Geophysical Center of Morocco, the earthquake occurred shortly after 23:00 in the Igil region of the High Atlas. It was Morocco’s deadliest since 1960.when the USGS estimated that the earthquake killed at least 12,000 people.

Igil, a mountainous area with small farming villages, lies about 70 km southwest of Marrakech.

Spanish television RTVE reported that the tremors were felt in Huelva and Jaen, in the Spanish region of Andalusia.

The United Nations stands ready to assist the Moroccan government in “their efforts to assist the affected population”This was announced by UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Governments around the world They expressed their solidarity and offered help.

The annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank will be held in Marrakech in early October.

Damage in Marrakech

IN MarrakeshSome houses in the cramped old city had collapsed and people worked tirelessly to clear away the rubble by hand while waiting for heavy equipment to arrive, Eid resident Waaziz Hasan said.

Images of the medieval city wall show large cracks in one area and fallen partsgarbage is scattered on the street.

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Another Marrakesh resident, Brahim Himmi, said: saw ambulances leaving the old town and many building facades are damaged. He said people were scared and stayed outside in case of another earthquake.

“The chandelier fell from the ceiling and I ran away. I’m still outside with my kids and we’re scared.“Said 43-year-old Huda Hafsi in Marrakesh.

Another woman, Dalila Fahem, said her home had cracks and furniture was damaged. “Fortunately, I haven’t gone to bed yet“, said.

Residents in the capital Rabat, about 350 kilometers north of Igil, and the coastal city of Imsuan, about 180 kilometers to the west, also fled their homes fearing a stronger earthquake, Reuters witnesses said.

In Casablanca, about 250 kilometers north of Isis, people sleeping on the streets were too scared to return home.

Videos posted on social media immediately after the earthquake, which Reuters has not yet been able to verify, showed people fleeing the mall, restaurants and shops in fear. apartment buildings and gathered on the street.

Reuters