Correction: January 25, 2015
An earlier version of this article, quoting from Rif 24, stated that an 8-year-old boy passed away. Morocco’s Official News Agency LA Map said no death casualties related to the earthquake were reported. La Map stated that the 8-year-old boy passed away not as a result of the earthquake.
Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- A major earthquake struck early Monday morning off the Moroccan northern coast, 180 kilometers south of the Spanish city Malaga, Morocco’s official Geological Center said a couple of minutes ago.
The 6.3-magnitude temblor hit at 4:22 a.m GMT, prompting locals of the cities of Al Hoceima, Mellilia, Nador and others to hurry up outside of their houses from fear of another temblor hit (check video underneath from the city of Al Hoceima).
According to local news outlet RIF 24, an 8-year-old boy passed away in the vicinity of Al Hoceima following the hit, while Al Hoceima’s local hospital welcomed a couple of cases with broken bones.
The Moroccan occupied city of Melilia reported important damages to some buildings, while schools in said city were officially closed.
Moroccan news outlet Hespress.com said that some locals in Al Hoceima spent the rest of the night outside of their houses, featuring an image (check image above) of a family that took of the streets a temporary shelter.
The Moroccan Times.