Shocking footage shows families fleeing as historic Marrakech mosque burns, with quake death toll nearing 2,500

11 September 2023, 13:45 | Updated: 11 September 2023, 14:17

Shocking footage shows families fleeing as smoke rises from historic mosque as death toll following quake nears 2,500
Shocking footage shows families fleeing as smoke rises from historic mosque as death toll following quake nears 2,500. Picture: LBC / Alamy / X

By Danielle DeWolfe

Dramatic footage shows a plume of smoke rising from a historic Marrakech mosque as families flee following Morocco's deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake, as the country's death toll nears 2,500.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

The footage, uploaded to social media platform X following the disaster, shows plumes of smoke rising from the 12th Century Kutubiya Mosque, with terrified screams ringing out.

Locals carrying children can be seen fleeing the scene following the quake, with 2,497 people now said to have died following Friday's earthquake.

Measuring in at 69 meters (226 foot), the mosque's tower - known by many as the “roof of Marrakesh” - suffered structural damage following the quake. Despite concerns, the structure remained standing.

It follows the emergence of footage showing aid trucks rolling into the city of Marrakesh, as relief efforts in the country began.

The extensive damage extended across the Unesco World Heritage site, with the instantly recognisable sections of red wall surrounding Marrakech's Old City reduced to rubble.

Three days of national mourning have since been declared in the country as aid efforts continue.

Footage shared online showed people screaming as they fled from collapsing buildings, with a huge cloud of dust rising above Marrakesh.

The devastating scenes also showed locals coming together to rescue those trapped in rubble while huge crowds gathered in open areas across the city to rest for the night.

On Saturday evening, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning.

Relief efforts begin in Morocco after earthquake

Flags will fly at half-mast on all public buildings, according to state media.

The King also ordered shelter, food and support for survivors, calling on the armed forces to assist rescue teams.

Read more: 'Give yourself up': Family of escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife's heartfelt plea as huge manhunt continues

Read more: 'Fired up' Rishi Sunak vows to keep cutting inflation, but refuses to commit to cutting taxes

It comes after he US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 when it hit at 11.11pm local time, with shaking that lasted several seconds.

Morocco's National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network measured it at 7 on the Richter scale.

The tremor's epicentre struck near the town of Ighil, roughly 70 kilometres south of Marrakesh.

The full death toll of the most powerful quake to hit Morocco in 120 years will not be known until rescuers complete the challenging journey to the remote mountain villages that were the hardest hit.

The UK said it was ready to assist in any way needed while France, Spain and Israel offered to help with the search and rescue.

Roads near the quake's epicentre were jammed with vehicles and blocked with collapsed rocks, local media reported.

The USGS said the epicentre was 18 kilometres (11 miles) below the Earth's surface, while Morocco's seismic agency put it at 8 kilometres (5 miles) down. In either case, such shallow quakes are more dangerous.

Rishi Sunak said his thoughts are with everyone affected by the "terrible" earthquake.

"The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends," the Prime Minister wrote on social media, in a message that echoed that of Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

Mr Cleverly pledged support in "whatever way we can".

Though earthquakes are relatively rare in North Africa, a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck near Agadir and caused thousands of deaths in 1960.

National Institute of Geophysics' head of the Seismic Monitoring and Warning, Lahcen Mhanni, told 2M TV that the earthquake was "exceptional".

He said: "Mountainous regions in general do not produce earthquakes of this size.

"It is the strongest earthquake recorded in the region."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

File photo of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy

Pills found next to body of Gene Hackman's wife are 'significant', police say, as mystery of couple's deaths deepens

Seven Sisters Road

Three teenage girls arrested after Bolivian man, 75, killed in north London, as murder probe launched

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine 'remains partners' with the US after a spat with Trump, as he touched down in the UK

Zelenskyy calls for US 'to stand more firmly by Ukraine's side', as he touches down early in UK for Starmer talks

Ukraine needs Starmer and other European leaders to help 'heal the wound' between Trump and Zelenskyy, the country's former Prime Minister has said

Ukraine relying on Starmer to 'heal wound' between Zelenskyy and Trump, country's ex-PM says after 'catastrophe'

Keir Starmer is facing calls to rescind an invitation for a state visit to Donald Trump

Calls for UK to retract Trump state visit invite after Zelenskyy row, as SNP says Starmer 'needs to get off his knees'

President Donald J Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office

'Ukraine should not be forgotten': Defiant Zelenskyy refuses to back down after White House row with Trump

President Donald Trump, center, greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, at the White House, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

'He fought like a lion': Ukrainians rally round Zelenskyy after heated White House row with Trump

Exclusive
Putin is likely to have been emboldened by the argument

‘Putin is the only winner of Trump-Zelenskyy row’, Ukrainian MP tells LBC - as Kremlin openly celebrates spat

Foster has been jailed for the scams

Brookside star jailed after scamming aspiring models out of £13.6 million with fake agency

Starmer's efforts to broker peace have been thrown into disarray

Trump and Zelenskyy's row throws Starmer and Europe into disarray ahead of crunch weekend of Ukraine talks

Trump and Zelenskyy clashed on Friday

Zelenskyy refuses to apologise to Trump after White House fight - as US president accuses him of not wanting peace

**FILE PHOTO** Gene Hackman and Wife Betsy Found Dead In Santa Fe Home. Gene Hackman And Wife Betsy Arakawa January 1989 Credit: Ralph Dominguez/MediaPunch

'Last event' logged on Gene Hackman's pacemaker may hold key to actor's death

Trump and Zelenskyy clashed on Friday evening

Trump accuses Zelenskyy of 'gambling with World War Three' as Starmer backs Ukraine following White House clash

KYIV, UKRAINE - 16 January 2025 - UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer meets with Volodymyr Zelenskyy President of Ukraine during a visit to Kyiv, Ukraine -

Starmer expresses 'unwavering support for Ukraine' as he speaks with Trump and Zelenskyy following White House clash

Trump and Zelenskyy clash

'You are never alone': World leaders react to White House showdown between Trump and Zelenskyy

President Trump Hosts Ukrainian President Zelensky At The White House

Watch: Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy engage in fiery White House clash