A powerful quake struck Morocco Friday night, claiming the lives of more than 2,000 people, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers struggle to reach hard-hit remote areas.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sorrow at the loss of life from the earthquake, according to his spokesperson on Saturday.
“The secretary-general expresses his solidarity with the government and people of Morocco in these difficult times,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson, in a statement.
“He addresses his most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” he added.
The United Nations is ready to assist the government of Morocco in helping the impacted population, said the statement.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time (2211 GMT) at a depth of 18.5 kilometers. The death toll has risen to 2,012, local media reported.
The epicenter of Friday’s tremor was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, roughly 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of Marrakech.
Neighboring Algeria expressed readiness to assist Morocco, saying it will open its airspace to flights carrying humanitarian aid, a state-owned news agency reported Saturday, citing a presidency statement.
Tunisia announced on Saturday that a rescue team has left for Morocco to offer search and rescue efforts, the official TAP news agency reported.
The team comprises more than 50 professional rescue experts and will work with local Moroccan rescue agencies during its search operations.
A statement released by The Tunisian Presidency said that the country will use all its capabilities to support Morocco.
The statement confirmed that Tunisia will dispatch urgent aid and civil protection teams to help in search and rescue, as well as a delegation from the Tunisian Red Crescent to participate in the relief operations.
In a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart, the Qatari prime minister expressed his condolences and wished “a speedy recovery for the injured,” vowing to “provide all necessary assistance.”
Türkiye, which suffered massive earthquakes in February, said it was “ready to provide all kinds of support to heal the wounds,” its state-run Anadolu news agency reported Saturday, citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry.
The earthquake damaged many buildings in the old city of Marrakesh, the nearest big city to the epicenter, and many residents had to spend the night in the open space for fear of potential aftershocks, said an overseas Chinese living in the city.
Many residents spent Friday night outdoors, as witnessed by Xinhua reporters in Ouarzazate, about 190 kilometers southeast of Marrakesh.
The Moroccan state TV said most of the earthquake casualties were from remote and inaccessible mountainous regions near the epicenter, with damaged roads and further hindered rescue efforts.
Remote villages were largely cut off from the world when they lost electricity and cellphone service. Facing the devastating aftermath, people were outside mourning neighbors and surveying the damage on their camera phones.
In the hardest-hit rural areas, Moroccans climbed through the canyons between collapsed homes that cascaded across roads and towns and tried to retrieve their dead.
In addition to human casualties, the earthquake destroyed several structures and parts of the city walls, as witnessed by Xinhua reporters.
Some of the historic red walls that encircle the ancient city center, built in the early 12th century, crumbled in the powerful tremor. At the same time, squares and traffic roundabouts were crowded with people seeking refuge.
TV footage showed many collapsed buildings near the epicenter, with people trapped under the rubble awaiting the arrival of heavy machinery.
On Saturday, the Red Cross Society of China announced that it would provide the Moroccan Red Crescent with 200,000 U.S. dollars in cash as emergency humanitarian assistance for its rescue operations and would keep abreast of the relief needs in the country.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI over the devastating earthquake in the country.
In his message, Xi said he was shocked to learn of the intense earthquake that brought heavy casualties and property loss.
On behalf of the Chinese government and people, the Chinese president expressed deep sorrow for the victims and offered sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and the injured.
Xi also expressed his belief that under the leadership of His Majesty the King, the Moroccan government and people will overcome the disaster and rebuild their homeland at an early date.
Global leaders including French President Emmanuel Macron, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Russian President Vladimir Putin have also offered their condolences.
Morocco declared three days of national mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half-staff throughout the country, according to local reports. (Xinhua)
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