Amidst the sad news of a severe earthquake in Morocco on Friday night (8th), a curious image went viral on social media: a shirtless man holding a PS5 in the middle of a street in Marrakech. Apparently, he was startled by the tremors and rushed out of his house, but not without taking the console with him.
Speculations and Reactions for Saving PS5
Although unidentified, comments, particularly on X, touched on various aspects of the scene: the instinct to try to save a cherished possession in such a situation and the likelihood of him playing at the time. Not to mention, of course, the large number of people saying they would do the same.
Tragic Toll of the Earthquake in Morocco
Unfortunately, however, according to a recent report from the Moroccan Ministry of Interior, the image that will be most remembered is not the gamer’s display of love. The number of people who have lost their lives has now exceeded a thousand, with over 1200 injured overnight.
Earthquake in Morocco Details and Impact
The earthquake lasted for about 15 seconds at a depth of 18.5 km, according to the United States Geological Survey. One-third of the country’s regions may have been affected, and the numbers of casualties and damages could still rise.
Morocco’s Growing PS5 Enthusiast Community
Being very close to Spain and Portugal, and a popular tourist destination for Europeans and travelers worldwide, Morocco has a growing video game market, according to Statista. Currently, about 41% of the population plays, and it is expected to increase to 44% by 2027.
The projection is for an annual growth of 9.75% over the next four years, resulting in a projected market volume of $322 million in the period – where the number of video game users, like the PS5, is expected to reach 17.5 million, out of over 37 million inhabitants.