Morocco has a history of significant earthquakes, and the earthquake that took place shortly after 11:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2023, marked the strongest to affect the region in more than a century. The tremor, with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale, shook the area near Oukaïmedene in the High Atlas Mountains, causing substantial devastation approximately 45 miles southwest of Marrakech in Al Haouz province. The shallow temblor, along with subsequent aftershocks, claimed over 2,900 lives and left 5,500 individuals injured, devastating homes and buildings, and spreading terror among residents. This seismic event inflicted severe damage on Marrakech's historic area and caused widespread destruction in remote settlements within the Atlas Mountains.
The impact of the earthquake was compounded by its severe effects on the hard-to-reach hillsides and valleys in Al Haouz province. Mountain roads became impassable due to debris from landslides, significantly impeding relief efforts and causing delays in reaching remote villages for days. The government's management of disaster recovery faced criticism, particularly regarding the selective acceptance of international assistance, further complicating relief operations in inaccessible areas.
The World Health Organization noted that over 300,000 people were adversely affected by the tremor, highlighting the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis.
Guillermo Gutierrez Photography
Guillermo Gutierrez is a Professional Photojournalist and Documentary Photographer based in Madrid-Spain.