In the wake of Morocco’s devastating earthquake, survivors find themselves grappling with homelessness, trauma, and a sense of abandonment. While they have escaped the clutches of death, many now face the daunting challenge of survival without sufficient aid from authorities.
This powerful earthquake has placed an immense strain on the North African kingdom’s emergency resources, leaving numerous communities in ruins and their inhabitants frustrated and bewildered by the perceived lack of assistance. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 6.8, is considered rare for western Morocco, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey. To compound matters, just twenty minutes after the main quake, the region was struck by a magnitude 4.9 aftershock.
To put this into perspective, the last major earthquake in this region dates back to 1960 when a 5.9 magnitude quake claimed between 12,000 and 15,000 lives along Morocco’s coastal region. According to records dating back to 1900, the U.S. Geological Survey has not documented any earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater within 300 miles of the recent disaster.
While the northern part of the country experienced a magnitude 6.3 earthquake in 2016, and in 2004, a magnitude 6.4 quake shook the region, the current situation has left the nation facing one of its most challenging crises in recent memory. As rescue and relief efforts intensify, the hope is that aid will reach those in need, providing some solace to the survivors of this tragic event.
Source : CBS NEWS