Morocco has recently witnessed its deadliest earthquake in over six decades, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake on September 8. The catastrophic event struck near the Atlas Mountains, claiming lives and altering the fate of the village of Tikht, located a few kilometers from the epicenter.

Tragedy unfolded as a 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook the region on September 8. Among the victims was Mina Ait Bihi, a young woman whose final moments were spent on the phone with her fiance, Omar Ait Mbarek. The aftermath saw Omar clutching her dust-covered phone, declaring his intent to rebuild their home amid the heart-wrenching loss.

The village of Tikht, once home to around 100 families, now lies in ruins, reduced to a chaotic jumble of debris, timber, and shattered remnants of daily life. Its traditional stone and timber structures crumbled under the quake’s force, leaving its inhabitants with next to nothing.

Mohssin Aksum, a survivor who had family in Tikht, lamented, “Life is finished here.” He pointed to the livestock, now buried beneath the rubble, as a stark reminder of the villagers’ plight. Abdelrahman Edjal, a 23-year-old student, shared his devastating experience of rescuing his father from their collapsed home, only to lose him to the injuries sustained in the catastrophe.

Emergency relief efforts have since been deployed, with yellow tents for shelter lining the road into Tikht. Government civil protection services and non-profit organizations have mobilized to assess and address the urgent needs of the remaining villagers, many of whom are still in shock.

The aftermath of this earthquake serves as a grim reminder of the unpredictable forces of nature and the resilience required to rebuild lives in its wake.

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