This Photo Is From Turkey, Not Morocco’s Recent Earthquake

Misbar investigated the circulating photo and found the claim to be misleading.

A thorough reverse image search revealed the photo making the rounds to be outdated.

This Photo Was Captured in Turkey, Not During Morocco's 2023 Earthquake 

Contrary to the viral claim, the photo features Turkey’s earthquake that occurred on February 6, not Morocco’s recent earthquake. 

Media outlets published the photo on February 9, 2023, attributing it to the Associated Press and asserting that it was an aerial image featuring the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Turkey at the time.

Moreover, an X user also uploaded the same photo on February 11, asserting that it features the earthquake in Turkey.

The 2023 Turkey-Syria Earthquake

On February 6, a recent earthquake struck Turkey and Syria tragically, resulting in a devastating death toll exceeding 50,000 people, as reported by the latest data from both countries.

In Turkey, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) has reported that 44,218 lives were lost as a result of these earthquakes. Meanwhile, in Syria, the most recent death toll stands at 5,914.

The initial earthquake, which occurred on February 6, had a magnitude of 7.7 and was followed shortly by another measuring 7.6. Since then, the region has experienced over 9,000 aftershocks, according to AFAD.

The Turkish government has reported that 173,000 buildings have been identified as either collapsed or severely damaged. The earthquake's reach extends to affect approximately 20 million people in Turkey, while the United Nations estimates that around 8.8 million individuals in Syria have been impacted by this disaster.

A force of nearly 240,000 rescue workers, including volunteers, is dedicated to their efforts across the 11 provinces in Turkey that were affected by the earthquakes. The impact of the earthquakes in Turkey has forced the evacuation of nearly 530,000 individuals from the affected areas.

Morocco’s Recent Earthquake

A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck Morocco on Friday night, resulting in the tragic loss of more than 2,000 lives and thousands more sustaining injuries. This earthquake is the most powerful to impact the country's central region in over a century. Its epicenter was situated not far from the popular tourist and economic hub of Marrakech.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 11:11 p.m. local time and had its epicenter in the High Atlas mountain range, located about 72 kilometers (44.7 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city with a population of around 840,000.

The significance of this earthquake is characterized by its magnitude of 6.8, categorizing it as a "strong" earthquake. Furthermore, it struck at a relatively shallow depth, intensifying its destructive impact.

Many world leaders have extended their condolences and offered assistance to Morocco in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake.

The earthquake in Morocco has garnered condolences and support from a wide range of world leaders and organizations, including the United Nations, US President Joe Biden, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G20 summit, Chinese leader Xi Jinping, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Their expressions of sympathy and solidarity demonstrate the global response to this tragic event and the unity of nations during times of crisis.

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