News

Nearly 300 dead as powerful earthquake strikes Morocco

Published

1 year ago

September 9, 2023

editor

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

Faiszer Musthapha’s name gazetted as MP

Published

16 hours ago

December 11, 2024

editor

Former Minister Faiszer Musthapha’s name has been gazetted by the Election Commission as a National List MP of the National Democratic Front.

The NDF contested under the symbol of a Gas Cylinder at the recently concluded General Election.

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News

CID ordered to develop program to reimburse ‘Onmax DT’ depositors

Published

16 hours ago

December 11, 2024

editor

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has reported to the Colombo Magistrate’s Court that a total of 2,017 complaints have been filed by depositors who claim to have been cheated out of their money after investing in ‘Onmax DT,’ a private firm alleged to have been operating a pyramid scheme.

According to the CID, the total estimated financial losses incurred by the complainants amounts to around Rs. 2.96 billion.

During a hearing before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage today (11), CID officials disclosed that a total of 865 new complaints have been received since the last hearing, and that additional complaints continue to be received.

Nine suspects, including the directors of Onmax DT, appeared before the court for the hearing. The CID further informed the court that three other suspects remain overseas, and open warrants have been issued for their arrest.

Investigations against the suspects are being conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act and the CID revealed that inquiries into two suspects have been completed and the excerpts of the investigations have been referred to the Attorney General.

Additionally, the CID officials informed the court that properties belonging to the suspected directors have been identified in foreign countries, including Australia, and investigations are being carried out in collaboration with the INTERPOL.

Colombo Chief Magistrate Thilina Gamage instructed the CID to immediately develop a program to reimburse the depositors who suffered financial losses.

The court ordered the CID to present an update on the progress of the investigation at the next hearing, scheduled for February 5, 2025.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

News

New Naval Attaché at Chinese embassy in SL calls on Navy commander (Pics)

Published

17 hours ago

December 11, 2024

editor

The new Naval Attaché at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Senior Captain Zheng Zhaoping called on Commander of the Navy – Vice Admiral Priyantha Perera at the Navy Headquarters on Dec.10.

During the ensuing meeting, they exchanged views on several matters of bilateral importance, and the cordial discussion drew to a close with an exchange of mementoes, as a gesture of goodwill and cooperation.

Director General Health Services, Rear Admiral Janaka Marambe, Director General Operations, Rear Admiral Buddhika Liyanagamage, Director Naval Operations, Commodore Aruna Weerasinghe and Defence Attaché at the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka, Senior Colonel Zhou Bo were present on this occasion.