Morocco earthquake 2023: is it safe to travel to Marrakesh right now?

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco late on the evening of Friday, September 8, killing over 800 people and injuring hundreds more. The epicentre of the earthquake was high up in the Atlas Mountains, around 44 miles southwest of Marrakesh, where many of the affected villages are remote and hard to reach. However, the relatively shallow epicentre of the quake, coupled with the age of the buildings in Marrakesh’s medina, means that many buildings were damaged or collapsed in the popular tourist city. Rescue efforts in the affected regions are ongoing. If you’re travelling to Marrakesh soon, here’s what you need to know.

Main photo: Marrakesh (Shutterstock)

Which areas have been affected by the earthquake?

With the epicentre of the earthquake in the Atlas Mountains, it’s mainly the areas in central Morocco that are affected. Marrakesh, the nearest tourist hub, has seen buildings damaged and collapsed as a result of the earthquake. Most of the damage was in the medina, the Unesco world heritage site and the oldest part of the city — this is attributed to the fact that many of the buildings here are historic and have not been constructed with earthquakes in mind.

Most of the deaths and injuries have occurred in the mountain villages, which are often remote and difficult to access. As of the morning of Saturday September 9, over 800 people have been confirmed dead according to local media. Rescue efforts are ongoing and the death toll is expected to rise.

Which areas haven’t been affected?

Although tremors from the earthquake were felt as far as Portugal and Spain, most of the damage was limited to the areas close to the epicentre. Agadir and Essaouira on the west coast have seen damage to some building facades but are largely unaffected. Further north, Casablanca, capital Rabat, Fes and Tangier are unaffected.

The Atlas Mountains (Getty Images) Where was the epicentre of the earthquake?

The epicentre of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake was high up in the Atlas Mountains, around three miles east of the town of Adassil, and at a depth of approximately 11 miles. The quake happened at 11.11pm on Friday, September 8. 

A second, smaller earthquake happened shortly after at 11.30pm on September 8. The epicentre of this earthquake was nearby, around 12 miles south of Imindounit, at a depth of 6 miles.

How common are the earthquakes in Morocco?

Large earthquakes are relatively rare in Morocco. The last earthquake, at a magnitude of 4.1, was just outside of Agadir eight months ago. But before that, there hadn’t been a major earthquake in the country for eight years — a 4.1 magnitude earthquake was registered near Agadir in January 2015.

Jemaa el-Fnaa (Getty Images) It is safe to travel to Morocco right now?

Rescue efforts are ongoing in the Atlas Mountains and many roads are blocked. If your travel plans involve Marrakesh, it’s best to check with your tour operator. There will likely be aftershocks in the region for the next couple of days, and the extent of the damage to buildings will need to be assessed, especially in the medina. More generally, the region will be engaged in rescue efforts, which means travelling there in the next couple of weeks will be unhelpful. Beyond that, it’s best to wait and see. The city depends heavily on tourism and a return of tourists will be welcomed as soon as it’s safe and reasonable to do so.

The rest of the country is however largely unaffected by the earthquake so there should be no reason to cancel your trip.

What’s the official Foreign Office travel advice? 

The UK Foreign Office has not issued any warnings against travelling to Morocco. On the earthquake, it advised: “You should follow local media and safety instructions from local authorities.”

Can I get a refund if I choose not to go because of the earthquake? 

If your trip is booked for anywhere outside of the affected regions, there’s no reason for you not to travel. If you do decide to cancel your trip, it will be considered a disinclination to travel and you will be unlikely to recoup any costs.

If you’re planning to travel to Marrakesh or the Atlas Mountains in the next couple of weeks, check with your travel company. Flights to Marrakesh are still taking off as normal so the only thing that might hinder your trip is the accommodation and any booked tours. If you have booked a package holiday, you’ll likely be given the choice to postpone your trip and it’s best to speak to your tour operator about this. 

If you’ve booked your flights and accommodation separately, you’ll need to check with the respective travel companies. The airline will most certainly still expect you to travel, but if your hotel has been damaged in the earthquake, you’ll be given a refund but will have to source your own alternative accommodation. Should you decide not to travel because of this, you may be able to recoup some costs from your travel insurance.

Am I covered by my travel insurance?

You should check the fine print on your travel insurance first. Most policies have a clause on curtailment or cancellation of trips due to natural disasters but the extent of the coverage varies. Usually, you’ll be able to recoup some costs if your trip can no longer take place, although you’ll be expected to ask your travel provider first. If you decide to cancel your trip without good reason, when it’s perfectly possible for your holiday to go ahead, you probably won’t be able to recover any associated costs.

Are Portugal and Spain affected by the earthquake?

Portugal and Spain’s proximity to Morocco means that tremors from the earthquake were felt in both countries, as well as in neighbouring Algeria. However, like other parts of Morocco, they’re not affected.