The death toll from the earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday evening has risen to 1,037, with 1,204 injured, including 721 in serious condition, according to Moroccan state television, citing the Interior Ministry on Saturday.
The earthquake, which struck southwest of Marrakesh and had its epicentre in the Al Haouz province, was the most violent in a century, according to the National Institute of Geophysics in Morocco. The institute reported that the intensity of the earthquake reached 7.2 on the Richter scale, while the US Geological Survey reported that it reached 6.8 on the same scale.
Director of the Moroccan Institute of Geophysics, Nasser Jabour, said in press statements that six major aftershocks were recorded following the main earthquake that shook central Morocco on Friday evening. He added that the largest number of victims was recorded near the epicentre of the earthquake, noting that the mountainous and rugged nature of the affected areas increased the extent of the damage.
The Moroccan authorities announced the launch of the process of delivering aid to the areas affected by the earthquake immediately after the quake, which was felt in many cities of the kingdom. The official news agency reported on Saturday that seven trucks loaded with blankets, camp beds, and lighting equipment were mobilized at the civil prevention warehouse in the Al-Arjat area of the city of Sale, near the capital, Rabat, to provide humanitarian aid as quickly as possible to the residents of the affected areas.
The agency indicated that a team of civil prevention personnel began loading trucks in the early hours of this morning very quickly to deliver aid as quickly as possible to the residents affected by the earthquake.
Meanwhile, the United Nations announced its readiness to support the Moroccan government in its efforts to help the population affected by the earthquake. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed his sadness and solidarity with the government and people of Morocco following the earthquake, which was described as the most violent in the country in a century.
Furthermore, the UN Coordinator in Morocco, Nathalie Fustier, said that she places the organization’s capabilities at the disposal of the Moroccan government to provide all assistance in these difficult circumstances. She expressed deep sadness and offered her deepest condolences to the Moroccan people and government.
In addition, Egypt, Algeria, Qatar, Turkey, Kuwait, and Russia expressed condolences to Morocco for the deaths caused by the earthquake. Algeria offered to put all its capabilities in front of Morocco to help deal with the consequences of the disaster – if Morocco so wanted. Kuwait also offered all the required assistance for Morocco.
