This Video Does Not Show Worshipers During the 2023 Morocco Earthquake
The Claim
A video shows worshipers during the 2023 Morocco earthquake.
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Emerging story
Following the recent earthquake that struck Morocco, social media users widely circulated a video purporting to feature the composure of the worshipers when the earthquake hit the country.
An X user shared the video along with the caption, “The most terrifying moment during the Morocco earthquake. Witness the composure of the worshippers at the time of the earthquake. There is no god but Allah.”
Misbar’s Analysis
Misbar investigated the video and found the claim to be misleading.
A thorough reverse image search revealed the video making the rounds to be outdated and unrelated to Morocco’s recent earthquake.
The Video Was Shot During Turkey-Syria Earthquake, Not Morocco’s Recent Earthquake
Contrary to the circulating claim, the video was not shot during Morocco’s recent earthquake. Instead, the video was shot during the earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria in February 2023.
An X page shared the video on February 26, along with the translated caption, “Images of the mosque community caught in the earthquake in Al-Faruq Mosque in Idlib countryside, Syria.”
Furthermore, Yeni Şafak, a Turkish media outlet, published the footage on February 26 under the title, "An earthquake occurred while the congregation was praying in Idlib: The row was not broken."
Turkey-Syria Multiple Earthquakes
On February 6, Turkey and Syria were struck by a series of devastating earthquakes, resulting in a tragic death toll surpassing 50,000, as confirmed by the latest data from both countries.
In Turkey, the Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) reported a loss of 44,218 lives due to the earthquakes. Meanwhile, in Syria, the current death toll stands at 5,914. These seismic events began with an initial earthquake measuring 7.7 in magnitude on February 6, followed shortly by another measuring 7.6. Since then, the region has experienced over 9,000 aftershocks, as reported by AFAD.
The Turkish government has identified 173,000 buildings as either collapsed or severely damaged as a result of the earthquakes. The impact of this catastrophe extends to approximately 20 million people in Turkey, while the United Nations estimates that around 8.8 million individuals in Syria have been affected by this disaster.
A Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Struck Morocco
Morocco has tragically experienced a devastating earthquake, resulting in a death toll exceeding 2,862 people, as reported by the country's Interior Ministry on Monday. Additionally, over 2,500 individuals have been injured due to the earthquake's impact.
The earthquake registered a magnitude of 6.8, which is unusual for western Morocco, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Approximately twenty minutes after the primary earthquake, a magnitude 4.9 aftershock shook the region. The earthquake epicenter was located near the town of Oukaïmedene in the Atlas Mountains, a rural area situated about 50 miles southwest of Marrakech, as confirmed by the USGS.
Notably, the quake had a relatively shallow depth of approximately 16 miles, according to the agency's assessment. Its effects were felt not only throughout Morocco but also in neighboring regions, including Algeria, Portugal, and Spain.
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