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Nearly 300 dead as powerful earthquake strikes Morocco

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2023

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A powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night, killing nearly 300 people and forcing many residents to spend the night in the streets in what the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said was the strongest tremor to hit that part of the North African nation in more than a century.

The quake struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountain range shortly after 11 p.m. local time at the relatively shallow depth of 18.5 kilometers (11.4 miles), USGS said, with the epicenter located about 72 kilometers (44.7 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a city of some 840,000 people and a popular tourist destination.

At least 296 people were killed, and 153 others were wounded, Morocco state-run Al-Aoula television reported on Saturday.

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces warned that residents were still vulnerable to aftershocks.

“We remind you of the need to exercise caution and take safety measures due to the risk of aftershocks,” the military wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The USGS said Friday night’s quake was unusually strong for the region.

“Earthquakes of this size in the region are uncommon, but not unexpected. Since 1900, there have been no earthquakes M6 (magnitude 6) and larger within 500 km of this earthquake, and only 9 M5 (magnitude 5) and larger earthquakes,” USGS said.

The US body predicted that “significant damage is likely and the disaster is potentially widespread”, noting that many people in the area reside in structures that are “highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking”.

State-run Al-Aoula television on Saturday showed multiple buildings collapsed near the epicenter and reported that thousands of people had fled their homes after the country’s National Institute of Geophysics warned of aftershocks.

In Marrakech, some houses in the tightly packed old city have collapsed and people were moving debris by hand while they waited for heavy equipment, local resident Id Waaziz Hassan told Reuters news agency.

Another Marrakech resident, Brahim Himmi, told Reuters he saw ambulances coming out of the old town and that many building facades were damaged. He said people were frightened and were staying outside in case of another quake.

Shaking was also felt in the capital Rabat, some 350km north of of the High Atlas mountains, Reuters said citing eyewitnesses.

Source: CNN

News

Illukpitiya’s bail application rejected

Published

3 hours ago

April 4, 2025

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The Supreme Court rejected a bail application filed on behalf of former Controller General of Immigration and Emigration – Harsha Illukpitiya, who is currently in remand custody for contempt of court.The decision was delivered by Supreme Court Justice Achala Wengappuli, with the concurrence of Justices Preethi Padman Surasena and Gamini Amarasekara.

Delivering the decision, the judge stated that a date has already been set for the hearing of the case on May 8.

On September 25, 2024, the Supreme Court ordered Harsha Ilukpitiya to be remanded until the conclusion of the contempt of court proceedings for failing to implement the Court’s order regarding the controversial visa deal. This order was issued against the respondent under Section 9(7) of the Contempt of Court, Tribunal, or Institution Act No. 08 of 2024.

News

Inmate murdered at Boossa Prison

Published

3 hours ago

April 4, 2025

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An inmate being held under remand custody at the Boossa High-Security Prison, has been murdered using a sharp weapon.

The deceased inmate has been identified as Nanda Kumar Shivananda (46) and according to reports, he had sustained 11 stab wounds.

Prison authorities suspect that the murder was carried out by another inmate currently serving a prison sentence at the same prison facility,

News

Consultant contract signed with Japan for DTTB project (Pics)

Published

4 hours ago

April 4, 2025

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A consultant contract for the detailed design of the Japan’s project “Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Project” was signed between Secretary to the Ministry of Health and Mass Media – Dr. Anil Jasinghe, and the Japanese company – Yachiyo Engineering yesterday (April 03).

The event was graced by the presence of Minister of Health and Mass Media – Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa, Deputy Minister of Finance and Planning – Dr. Harshana Suriyapperuma, Deputy Minister of Digital Economy – Eng. Eranga Weeraratne and Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka – Mr. Akio Isomata.

The Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting Project is a project that supports transformation to a digital economy, which is the foundation for sustainable economic growth, through the effective use of limited and scarce frequencies. This project also contributes to improvement of people’s lives through the provision of diverse contents, including information and alert on natural disasters, and the securing of a healthy competitive environment in the broadcasting industry. 　

Ambassador Isomata emphasised that the project should be implemented without any further delay, mentioning the fact that it took 10 years before the consultant contract was signed today since the bilateral agreement was concluded between Japan and Sri Lanka.

He expressed his expectation that all parties concerned will work closely together to implement the project in a steady manner for the benefit the people of Sri Lanka in achieving a digitalized economy.