632 people were killed and 329 injured in a strong earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night, causing severe damage, according to a new toll issued by the Ministry of the Interior.

The ministry said in a statement on Saturday: “As of 7 a.m., 632 deaths and 329 injuries had been recorded, including 51 serious injuries.” The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Al Haouz Province, southwest of the city of Marrakesh.

The National Center for Scientific and Technical Research, based in Rabat, stated that the magnitude of the earthquake reached 7 degrees on the Richter scale and that its epicenter was located in the Al Haouz province.

The Ministry of the Interior said in a statement that the earthquake occurred in the provinces and prefectures of Al Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

Moroccan media reported that this was the strongest earthquake to hit the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Interior indicated that the authorities "have harnessed all means and capabilities to intervene, provide assistance, and assess the damage."

The earthquake measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, according to the American Geophysical Institute. Its center was located southwest of the tourist city of Marrakesh, 320 km south of the capital, Rabat.

The earthquake caused material damage, according to witnesses and photos circulated on social media.

In one of the areas of Al Haouz, the epicenter of the earthquake, a family was trapped under the rubble after their house collapsed, according to media reports.

The "Media 24" website quoted medical sources as saying that there was a "massive influx" of wounded into Marrakesh hospitals.

Residents of Marrakesh, Rabat, Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira felt the earthquake, which sparked a state of panic.

A number of citizens took to the streets of these cities for fear of the collapse of their homes, according to pictures circulated on social media.

Pictures and videos posted by Internet users show the wreckage of homes in the alleys of Marrakesh and cars damaged by falling stones.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose country is hosting the G20 summit this weekend in New Delhi, expressed his condolences on Saturday to the relatives of the earthquake victims.

“Very saddened by the loss of lives as a result of the earthquake in Morocco,” Modi wrote on X (formerly Twitter), adding, “In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Our condolences to those who lost their loved ones.”

Abdelhak El Amrani, a 33-year-old resident of Marrakesh, told AFP by phone, “Around 23:00 we felt a very violent tremor and I realized it was an earthquake. I saw buildings moving. Then I went out and saw many people outside. The people were all in a state of shock and panic.” “The children were crying and the parents were in astonishment.”

He added, "The electricity was cut off for ten minutes, as was the (telephone) network, but it came back on. Everyone decided to stay outside."

According to photos posted on social media, two people were injured as part of a minaret collapsed in the famous Jemaa El Fna Square in Marrakesh.

Faisal Baddour, 58 years old, a resident of the city, said, “I was on my way home when the earthquake occurred. My car started swaying, but I never imagined it was an earthquake.”

He added, "I stopped and realized the catastrophe. What had happened was very dangerous. I felt like a river overflowing violently. The screaming and crying was unbearable."

In turn, a resident of Essaouira, located 200 kilometers west of Marrakesh, told AFP by phone, “We heard screams at the time of the earthquake. People are in squares and cafes and prefer to sleep outside. There are parts of the facades that fell.”

The earthquake was recorded shortly after 23:00 (22:11 GMT). Its depth was estimated at about 18.5 kilometers, according to the American Geophysical Institute.
The Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center, a scientific body specialized in seismic activity in the Mediterranean region, estimated the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.9.

The earthquake was also felt by residents of several areas in neighboring western Algeria, but the Algerian Civil Defense said it did not cause any damage or injuries.

On February 24, 2004, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck Al Hoceima Governorate, 400 kilometers northeast of Rabat, resulting in 628 deaths and severe material damage.

On February 29, 1960, an earthquake destroyed the city of Agadir, located on the western coast of the country, leaving more than 12,000 dead, or a third of the city’s population.