Morocco Earthquake highlights: Thousands dead; foreign govts extend condolences, support

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.

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. (AFP)

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.

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”.

The death toll from a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night surpassed 1,000, Reuters reported citing state television. The toll is expected to climb further even as frantic search and rescue operations continued. Read More here

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.

The status of Morocco's soccer game Saturday night as part of African Cup of Nations qualifying was uncertain after an earthquake struck the country, killing more than 800 people.

Morocco was scheduled to play Liberia at Adrar Stadium in Agadir.

The earthquake struck late Friday night. It has killed hundreds of people and damaged buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakech. Rescuers struggled to get through boulder-strewn roads to the remote mountain villages hit hardest.

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.

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.

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.

At least 820 people lost their lives after a powerful 6.8 magnitude hit Morocco late on Friday night.

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.

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.

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. Watch

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."

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."

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.

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.

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."

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."

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.

AFP

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."

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".

Morocco's government says 632 died and 329 were injured after a powerful quake, more than doubling the earlier toll, reports AP.

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.