Just after 11pm on September 8, 2023, Morocco started to crumble as an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 started to wreak havoc. The earthquake struck in western Morocco with a depth of about 11 miles, and an epicenter in the southwest region. Over 2,900 people died, over 5,500 people suffered from injuries, and many homes were left in shambles. The earthquake was felt across the Al Haouz province in Morocco and affected many remote regions in the mountains.
In rural villages in the mountains, buildings are constructed with little reinforcement. This lack of support in buildings caused many villages to face immense devastation. In Amizmiz, as many as 2,000 people died due to falling debris and collapsed walls.
The areas that were hit the hardest were located in hard-to-reach mountain areas, which slowed the rate of emergency services and rescue teams. The Moroccan government faced criticism for the slow response to bring in relief supplies. Countries such as France, Turkey, and Algeria have supplied tents, funds, and rescue teams to Morocco.
