Morocco Earthquake News: Thousands died after a powerful 6.8 magnitude hit Morocco late on Friday night, country’s Interior Ministry said. The death toll is most likely to rise further. The epicentre, according to Al Jazeera, was 72 kilometres west of Marrekesh, which is a major economic centre. The red walls which surround the old city and are a UNESCO World Heritage site have also been damaged.
As per the US Geological Survey, the quake initially had a magnitude of 6.8 when it hit at 11:11 pm and the shaking lasted several seconds. Whereas, the National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network of Morocco measured the earthquake to be at 7 on the Richter scale.
The US agency said that a 4.9 magnitude aftershock hit the country 19 minutes after the first quake. As per the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency, the quake was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria.
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Sep 09, 2023 11:01 PM IST
The Eiffel Tower’s lights will go dark at 11 p.m. (2100 GMT) on Saturday in tribute to victims of Morocco’s earthquake, Agence France Presse reported, citing Paris City Hall.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry said earlier that 1,037 people had been killed and another 672 injured by the quake, recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey at a magnitude of 6.8 with an epicentre some 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech.
Sep 09, 2023 09:35 PM IST
Italy’s famed La Scala opera house cancelled a concert in Brussels Saturday, saying disruption to air traffic in Europe following an earthquake in Morocco left its orchestra and choir grounded.
The orchestra and choir concert conducted by Riccardo Chailly at the Bozar centre for fine arts in Brussels “will not be able to take place due to the impact of the tragic earthquake in Morocco on European air traffic”, La Scala said in a statement.
“The plane that was supposed to transport the 215 orchestral players, choir members and staff from Aalborg, the venue of last night’s concert, to Brussels this morning was grounded at Marrakech Airport,” it said.
“And the impact of the earthquake on several European routes meant that no other solution could be found in time for this evening’s concert,” it added.
Sep 09, 2023 08:51 PM IST
The death toll in the powerful earthquake that occurred in Morocco near Marrakesh has reached over 1,000. Meanwhile, the efforts to clear roads for search and rescue operations are underway. The earthquake took place at 03:41:01 (UTC 05:30) at a depth of 18.5 km. The magnitude of the earthquake caused pulses to travel from Sidi Ifni in the south to Rabat in the north and beyond.
Sep 09, 2023 07:41 PM IST
Algeria, which broke off ties with Morocco two years ago, said on Saturday it would open its air space for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco, after a major earthquake there that killed over 800 people. Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, citing what it said were “hostile acts”. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said earlier this year that relations between the North African neighbours had reached “a point of no return”.
Sep 09, 2023 06:55 PM IST
The death toll from a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night surpassed 1,000, sources reported citing state television. The toll is expected to climb further even as frantic search and rescue operations continued.
Sep 09, 2023 06:44 PM IST
A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. The full toll was not known as rescuers struggled to get through boulder-strewn roads to the remote mountain villages hit hardest.
Sep 09, 2023 05:02 PM IST
Pope Francis expressed solidarity Saturday with Moroccans affected by a devastating earthquake known to have killed at least 820 people in the North African country.
“The pope expresses his profound solidarity with those who are touched in the flesh and heart by this tragedy,” read a telegram sent to Morocco by the Vatican’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.
Sep 09, 2023 04:43 PM IST
Morocco’s deadly earthquake hit near Marrakech, a city beloved of Moroccans and foreign tourists for its medieval mosques, palaces and seminaries richly adorned with vivid mosaic tiling amid a labyrinth of rose-hued alleyways.
The extent of damage to Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was not yet clear on Saturday morning though most of the main historic sites in the old city appeared largely unscathed.
Sep 09, 2023 04:05 PM IST
Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a “message of condolence” to Morocco Saturday, state media reported, joining a chorus of international support for the North African country in the wake of a devastating earthquake.
“On September 9, President Xi Jinping sent a message of condolence to King Mohammed VI of Morocco over the severe earthquake in Morocco,” official broadcaster CCTV said.
Sep 09, 2023 03:50 PM IST
At least 820 people lost their lives after a powerful 6.8 magnitude hit Morocco late on Friday night.
Sep 09, 2023 03:45 PM IST
The head of the African Union Commission on Saturday expressed “great pain” over the devastating earthquake in Morocco which has claimed more than 800 lives.
“I learnt with great sadness of the tragic consequences of the earthquake that hit the kingdom of Morocco,” Moussa Faki Mahamat said, expressing his “sincere condolences” to the king, the Moroccan people and the families of the victims.
Sep 09, 2023 03:23 PM IST
Spain has offered to send rescuers to Morocco following an earthquake that killed over 600 people, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said Saturday.
“Spain has offered Morocco, if it deems it necessary, both its rescue capacities, which in these moments are the most important, as well as its rebuilding capacity once this moment has passed. What is important right now is to save the greatest number of lives possible,” he told reporters at the G20 summit in India.
Sep 09, 2023 03:03 PM IST
A CCTV camera purportedly captured the moment a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night killing at least 632 people and injuring over 329 others.
Sep 09, 2023 02:45 PM IST
The UK will help Morocco “in whatever way we can,” Foreign Minister James Cleverly said Saturday, following an earthquake that has killed more than 630 people.
“Devastating news of a substantial earthquake just outside Marrakesh, Morocco,” he tweeted. “We stand ready to help our Moroccan friends in whatever way we can.”
Sep 09, 2023 02:26 PM IST
Following are reactions from foreign governments to the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday, killing hundreds and destroying buildings in the deadliest tremor to hit the country in decades.
PM Modi
“We pray that all the injured people get well soon. The entire world community is with Morocco in this difficult time and we are ready to provide them all possible assistance.”
Vladimir Putin
“Please accept my sincere condolences on the tragic consequences of the devastating earthquake in the central regions of your country. Russia shares the worry and sorrow of the friendly people of Morocco. Please convey words of sympathy and support to the families and friends of the victims, as well as wishes for a speedy recovery to all those who have suffered as a result of this natural disaster.”
Turkish President Erdogan
“We stand by our Moroccan brothers with all our means in this difficult day,” he said in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.In a separate statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said Ankara was ready to provide all kinds of support “to heal the wounds of the earthquake in Morocco”.
French President Emmanuel Macron
“We are all shocked after the terrible earthquake in Morocco. France stands ready to help first aid responses.”
Sep 09, 2023 02:09 PM IST
In a statement, UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere condolences to the government and people of Morocco, and to the families of the victims of this tragedy, as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.
Sep 09, 2023 02:07 PM IST
Taiwan’s fire department says it has put a team of 120 rescuers on standby to go to Morocco who can go the moment they get instructions from Taiwan’s foreign ministry.
Sep 09, 2023 02:06 PM IST
Spain’s Acting Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said, “All my solidarity with the people of Morocco in the face of the terrible earthquake … Spain stands with the victims of this tragedy and their families.”
Sep 09, 2023 02:05 PM IST
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Friday, “Awful images are reaching us from Morocco. Together with the people of Morocco, we mourn the victims of the terrible earthquake. Our thoughts are with them and all those who are searching for those buried in these hours and fighting for the lives of the many injured.”
Sep 09, 2023 02:01 PM IST
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday offered support to Morocco after “this devastating earthquake”. “We will support our Moroccan brothers in every way in this difficult hour,” he said in a message on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Sep 09, 2023 01:37 PM IST
French President Emmanuel Macron said Saturday he was “devastated” by the earthquake in Morocco, which has killed at least 600 people, and offered to help relief efforts.”
We are all devastated after the terrible earthquake in Morocco,” Macron said on X, formerly known as Twitter, while onboard a flight to the G20 summit in India. “France stands ready to help with first aid.”
Sep 09, 2023 01:34 PM IST
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences Saturday to the “friendly people” of Morocco after an earthquake struck, killing over 600 people overnight.
“In Russia, we share the pain and the mourning of the friendly Moroccan people,” Putin said in message to Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, offering his “sincere condolences for the tragic consequences of the devastating earthquake”.
Sep 09, 2023 12:56 PM IST
Morocco’s government says 632 died and 329 were injured after a powerful quake, more than doubling the earlier toll, reports AP.
Sep 09, 2023 12:42 PM IST
A rare, powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday night, killing hundreds of people and damaging buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. People are sharing pictures and videos on social media platforms showing how damaging the earthquake was.
Sep 09, 2023 12:36 PM IST
Indian Embassy in Morocco advised all Indian nationals in the quake-hit country to call our helpline +212661297491 for any assistance.
“Indian Embassy in Morocco expresses its deep sympathy to the victims of the earthquake in Morocco. India stands ready to extend assistance to Morocco in this difficult time,” it said in an X post.
Sep 09, 2023 12:29 PM IST
At least 632 people have died and at least 329 have been injured as country updates death toll.
Sep 09, 2023 11:47 PM IST
Terrified residents of Marrakesh report that “unbearable” screams had followed the 6.8-magnitude tremor, France News 24 reported.
Sep 09, 2023 11:30 PM IST
Frenchman Michael Bizet, 43, who owns three traditional riad houses in Marrakesh’s old town, told AFP that he had been in bed at the time of the quake. “I thought my bed was going to fly away. I went out into the street half-naked and immediately went to see my riads. It was total chaos, a real catastrophe, madness,” he said.
Sep 09, 2023 10:52 PM IST
PM Modi said at G20, “Before we start the proceedings of G20, I want to express my condolences over the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. We pray that all injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”
Sep 09, 2023 10:32 PM IST
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz offered his condolences on Saturday to relatives of the victims of a “devastating” earthquake that killed at least 296 people in Morocco.
“At this difficult time, our thoughts are with the victims of this devastating earthquake. Our sympathy goes out to all those affected by this natural disaster,” Scholz, who is attending the G20 summit in India this weekend, wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Sep 09, 2023 10:14 PM IST
The epicenter of Friday’s tremor was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, roughly 70 kilometers (43.5 miles) south of Marrakech.
Sep 09, 2023 09:38 PM IST
Abderrahim Ait Daoud, head of the town of Talat N’Yaaqoub, said authorities are working to clear roads in Al Haouz Province to allow passage for ambulances and aid to populations affected, but said large distances between mountain villages mean it will take time to learn the extent of the damage.
Sep 09, 2023 09:09 PM IST
Near Taroudant, teacher Hamid Afkar told AFP that he had fled his home and there had been aftershocks following the first quake.”The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor,” he said.
Sep 09, 2023 09:06 PM IST
Montasir Itri, a resident of mountain village of Asni near the epicentre of the Earthquake, told AFP that most houses in the village had been damaged. “Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village,” he said.
Sep 09, 2023 08:45 AM IST
The earthquake is Morocco’s deadliest since 2004, when tremors near Al Hoceima in northern Rif mountains which killed more than 600 people.
Sep 09, 2023 08:37 AM IST
Morocco’s Interior Ministry on Saturday reported that the earthquake hit the provinces of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.
Sep 09, 2023 08:36 AM IST
The epicentre of the earthquake was at a shallow depth of 18.5 km and occurred around 72 km southwest of Morocco’s fourth largest city, Marrakesh and 56 km west of the mountain area of Oukaimeden, US Geological Survey said.
Sep 09, 2023 08:29 AM IST
The Interior Ministry said the number constituted a preliminary death toll and that 153 people had been injured. A local official said most deaths were in mountain areas that were hard to reach.
Sep 09, 2023 08:23 AM IST
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Saturday, “Extremely pained by the loss of lives due to an earthquake in Morocco. In this tragic hour, my thoughts are with the people of Morocco. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. May the injured recover at the earliest. India is ready to offer all possible assistance to Morocco in this difficult time.”
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