Several countries provide support as Morocco is struck by 6.8-magnitude earthquake

A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Morocco at 11.11 p.m. on Friday, September 8, with an epicenter about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech.

Furthermore, the shallow earthquake has so far caused at least 2,122 fatalities and another 2,421 have been injured, as was announced on Sunday.

This earthquake was felt all the way to Casablanca, and according to the US Geological Survey’s records, is the strongest one to hit the country’s center in more than a century. However, it is not the deadliest, as another one in 1960 caused over 12,000 fatalities.

At least 25 aftershocks have followed the main event, while more are expected to take place in the following days, weeks, or months.

It is estimated that more than 300,000 people in Marrakech and surrounding areas have been affected by the events.

Roads in the affected areas have been blocked by debris, and many areas in the Atlas Mountains remain hard to reach, while eyewitnesses have said that some towns in the area are destroyed completely.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has declared three days of national mourning, starting Sunday, as well as funeral prayers to be held in the country’s mosques for the victims. He also ordered a relief mission which will deliver aid to those in need.

Several countries have offered their help, including the US, Turkey, and France. However, Morocco has assessed the situation and decided, at this time, to accept the ones from Britain, Spain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, which have flown in equipment and personnel to aid search and rescue missions.