Afghan Voice Agency (AVA): According to Reuters, this earthquake occurred around 11:00 last night (Friday, September 9, 2023) local time in the mountainous region of "Ighil", 70 kilometers southwest of the center of Morocco.
The Geophysical Center of Morocco declared the magnitude of this earthquake to be 7.2 on the Richter scale, but the US Seismological Organization said its magnitude was 6.8 on the Richter scale and at a depth of 18.5 kilometers.
The Ministry of Interior of Morocco has said that this earthquake shook the provinces of Al-Hawz, Ouarzazate, Morocco, Azilal, Chichawa and Taroudant.
It is said that due to this earthquake, many buildings were destroyed and people in different cities of Morocco were thrown out of their houses to the roads at night.
Residents of Morocco, the closest major city to the epicenter, said some buildings in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, had collapsed, Reuters reported.
Local Moroccan television showed footage of a collapsed mosque minaret with debris strewn over wrecked cars, Reuters reported.
This earthquake is said to be the deadliest after the 2004 earthquake in Al Hamisa region in the north of the country, which left more than 600 dead.
The Ministry of Interior of Morocco has said that the number of victims of this earthquake is preliminary and the number of victims may increase.