Earthquake: Morocco declares 3 days national mourning as more than 2,000 confirmed dead
A picture released by the Moroccan Royal Palace shows Morocco's King Mohammed VI addressing speech, transmitted via a screen to the parliament, from the Royal Palace in the northeastern city of Fez, on October 8, 2021. - Mohammed VI named a new government led by Aziz Akhannouch, a billionaire tycoon close to the palace who will face pressing economic problems exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. The 24-member cabinet, formed after Akhannouch's National Rally of Independents (RNI) trounced incumbent Islamists in elections last month, includes seven women, up from four in the previous administration. (Photo by Moroccan Royal Palace / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / SOURCE / MOROCCAN ROYAL PALACE- NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS
The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Morocco has climbed to more than 2,000, with a towering number of people also injured.
The interior ministry says more than 1,400 have serious injuries, and most casualties are in provinces just south of Marrakesh.
King Mohammed VI has since declared three days of national mourning and called for shelter, food and other help for survivors.
Flags will be flown at half-mast on all public buildings in the country for the next three days, according to a statement from the royal palace.
It was Morocco’s deadliest earthquake since a 6.7-magnitude quake struck Agadir in 1960, killing over 12,000 people.
The earthquake on Friday was also the biggest violent to strike Morocco in almost a century.
The magnitude 6.8 quake hit Marrakesh and many towns on Friday night.
Entire villages in mountain areas are reported to have been flattened.
While reacting to the tremor, the United Nations said it was ready to help the Moroccan government in “its efforts to assist the impacted population”, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
The AU, EU US, Nigeria, Somalia and several other countries have offered their condolences to the people of Morocco while Spain, France and Israel have pledged to help the country in this trying time.
