Johannesburg – The Morocco earthquake death toll has reached 1 037, with 1 204 injured, 721 of them critically, authorities said late Saturday.
The quake was the biggest to hit Morocco in 120 years. It measuried a magnitude of 6.9 toppled Minaret in Marrakech Old City damaging historic buildings.
The earthquake struck shortly after 11:00 PM local time on Friday, (8 September 2023).
Remy Bossu, Seismologist, and secretary general Euro-Med Seismological Centre warned of the dangers of aftershocks.
The earthquake which struck approximately 48 miles (77 km) south-southwest of Marrakesh, Morocco was followed by a magnitude 4.9 aftershock.
Earlier on Saturday, South Africa joined other countries in offering their condolences to Morocco and its people.
SA Deputy President Paul Mashatile has on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as the government and people of South Africa, joined the international community in expressing condolences to the Kingdom of Morocco following Friday’s devastating earthquake.
President Ramaphosa is in India attending the G20 Summit.
Deputy President Mashatile said the thoughts of the people of South Africa are with the families that have lost their loved ones in this tragedy. The Deputy President has also wished all survivors a speedy recovery.
“We are deeply saddened by the shocking loss of life and extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Morocco, and wish all survivors strength and a speedy recovery,” he said.
Deputy President Mashatile commended the efforts of the emergency response institutions in the country and has full confidence that the Kingdom of Morocco will unite in its response and emerge even stronger following the disaster.
Many countries have offered assistance.
