Morocco earthquake death toll climbs to over 1,000 as world leaders offer support
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Provisional death toll as a result of a powerful earthquake in Morocco rises to 1,037 with many more injured
Provisional death toll as a result of a powerful earthquake in Morocco rises to 1,037 with many more injured.
At least, 1037 people died in a powerful earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night, causing widespread damage and panic in Marrakech, a tourist Mecca, and several other cities, according to a new official report.
The Moroccan Centre for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST) said the epicentre of the quake, recorded at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT), was located in the province of Al-Haouz, south-west of the city of Marrakech, a popular destination for foreign tourists.
1,037 people died, mostly in Marrakech and five provinces near the quake’s epicenter, and another 1,204 people were injured, Morocco’s Interior Ministry reported Saturday morning.
Of the injured, the ministry wrote, 721 were in critical condition.
More than a third of the deaths (394) were recorded in Al-Haouz, the epicentre of the quake, and in Taroudant (271) further south, the same source said.
The quake was the biggest to hit Morocco in 120 years, and it toppled buildings and walls in ancient cities made from stone and masonry not designed to withstand quakes.
“The problem is that where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough to cope with strong ground shaking, so many collapse resulting in high casualties,” said Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London. “I would expect the final death toll to climb into the thousands once more is known. As with any big quake, aftershocks are likely, which will lead to further casualties and hinder search and rescue.”
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Meanwhile, worldleaders continue to sent their condolences and support in the aftermath of the earthquake.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was “shocked” by the events and offered France’s help in a message on X (formerly Twitter).
Other countries that sent their condolences included Germany, Spain, Russia, Ukraine, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “gave instructions (…) to provide all necessary assistance to the Moroccan people”, referring to “preparations to send an aid team to the area”, according to a statement from his office.
The head of the Italian government, Giorgia Meloni, expressed Italy’s “willingness to support Morocco in this emergency situation”.
Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences to Morocco, saying he was “extremely saddened by the loss of life”.
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