Morocco earthquake: AT least 1,040 killed in quake near Marrakesh
At least 1,040 people has killed and injured hundreds more , the country’s deadliest in more than six decades, topping houses in remote mountain villages where rescuers dug through rubble for survivors, after a magnitude-6.8 earthquake jolted Morocco on Friday, local media reported.
The quake hit just after 11pm local time (22:00 GMT).
The quake struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night, damaging historic buildings in Marrakech, the nearest city to the epicentre, while the most badly affected areas were in the mountains nearby.
The historic Morocco city of Marrakesh suffered extensive damage in the powerful earthquake.
Marrakesh’s famous koutoubia Mosque, built in the 12th century, was damaged as well, but the extent was not immediately clear, officials have said. Its 69-metre (226-foot) minaret is known as the “roof of Marrakesh”.
Morocco also posted videos showing damage to parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The people and Government of Pakistan stood in solidarity with the Kingdom of Morocco and expressed their heartfelt sympathies and condolences at the tragic loss of lives in yesterday’s earthquake.
“We have also conveyed our offer of assistance to Morocco,” Spokesperson Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a press statement, on Saturday.
Pakistan Embassy in Rabat has reached out to the Pakistani community to inquire about their safety. “As per initial reports all Pakistani nationals are safe. We will continue to monitor the situation to facilitate them in the wake of this tragedy,” she added.