On 8 September 2023 at 23:11 DST (22:11 UTC), an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 6.9 and maximum Mercalli intensity of IX (Violent) struck Morocco's Al Haouz Province.

The crust beneath the Atlas range from 32–40 km (20–25 mi), considered thin and physically impossibe to support high elevations exceeding 4,000 m (13,000 ft).

[23] In another finite fault model published by Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the focal depth was determined at 24.7 km (15.3 mi) beneath the High Atlas.

The deeper depth and greater remoteness from populated areas compared to the earthquake that struck Agadir in 1960 meant it caused fewer casualties and damage.

[88] Collapsed buildings made from traditional mud brick, stone and rough wood complicated lowered the chances of survival as these materials disintegrated and amalgamated.

[88] A highway in the Atlas Mountains, congested with ambulances, taxis and Red Cross members, was used to treat the injured; the severely wounded were transported to a hospital in Marrakesh.

[96] King Mohammed VI, who was reportedly in France at the time of the earthquake,[99] authorised the deployment of the Royal Moroccan Army in various affected cities in order to help.

[100][101] He also declared three days of national mourning and ordered the creation of a relief commission to provide survivors with aid, and the opening of special bank accounts to allow donations.

[102][68][82] Following a meeting with the King on 11 September, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, in his first remarks on the disaster, said that the government was committed to funding rebuilding and compensating those affected.

[77] King Mohammed VI also visited the Marrakesh University Hospital on 12 September, with state media saying that he met with earthquake victims and donated blood.

[118] Benoît Payan, the mayor of Marrakesh's sister city Marseille, France, announced that he was sending firefighters to Morocco to help with rescue operations.

Arnaud Fraisse, head of Secouristes Sans Frontières (Rescuers Without Borders), said its teams were prevented by Moroccan authorities from entering the country on 10 September.

[99] On 10 September, Minister for Digital Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot said that all French mobile phone operators had begun offering free calls and text messages to Morocco.

[123] In Belgium, a public memorial service for the victims of the earthquake was held in the city centre of Antwerp on 12 September, during which the Moroccan national anthem was played and a minute of silence for the dead was conducted.

[139] Two Spanish Air Force aircraft carrying 86 soldiers and eight search dogs were flown to Marrakesh after the Moroccan government made a bilateral appeal.

[117][82] The Czech Republic announced it was ready to send about 70 members of a rescue team, including nine doctors, after receiving an official request from the Moroccan government.

[143] The Confederation of African Football postponed the qualifying match for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations between Morocco and Liberia, which was due to be held in Agadir on 9 September.

The organization said it would provide support according to the needs expressed, with Director General Audrey Azoulay specifying "whether it is a matter of surveying the damage in the fields of heritage and education, making buildings safe or preparing for reconstruction".

[152] The Red Cross announced the recovery process could take years;[8] several villages near the epicenter in the remote mountainous region were completely flattened and/or inaccessible,[81] with the paucity of infrastructure such railways, roads, and hospitals vis-à-vis the north of the country hampering relief efforts.

[153] On 20 September, a five-year-long rehousing plan estimated at US$11.7 billion was announced after a discussion with King Mohammed VI, army and government personnel.

[155] During the Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group held in Marrakesh, Morocco and Spain agreed on lending €11.6 million to support the reconstruction campaign.

[157] Offers of assistance flooded in from countries and organisations including the United States, France, Turkey,[158] the European Commission, the African Union, the International Monetary Fund, and Algeria, which maintains tumultuous relations with Morocco.

[161] The president of the NGO Secouristes sans frontières, Arnaud Fraisse, stated, "We do not understand this situation of blocking on the part of the Moroccan government.

"[162] The Lebanese newspaper L'Orient-Le Jour declared Morocco, "despite being wounded, is snubbing international aid", forcing local officials to organise assistance.

[164][165] This came after Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi's statement on television affirming that Algeria's aid was favorable and that coordination with the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs was required.

[176] In response to these observations, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said on 10 September that its selective acceptance of aid was "based on a precise assessment of needs on the ground" but not an outright rejection of such offers.

[177] The Spanish newspaper El Mundo criticised the delayed reaction of King Mohammed VI as he remained "silent for hours after the drama".

[178][163] The newspaper on the other hand quoted the French ambassador in Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier [fr], who justified the delay by stating that "the Moroccan authorities were conducting an evaluation of the situation", since "the southern region was isolated and far from urban centres".

This statement was echoed by spokesperson of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Anne-Claire Legendre [fr], who added that "the needs must be established prior to making a request for help".

[180] On 25 October 2023, hundreds of people took to the streets of Amizmiz, one of the worst-hit towns, to protest against local and regional authorities over delays in the delivery of emergency aid and cash support for the affected families.