Morocco earthquake update highlights | September 10

The earthquake death toll continues to rise. It has now crossed the 2100 mark.

At least 2122 people have been killed and 2421 have been injured.

Spain has sent 56 rescuers and four search dogs to Morocco to help the rescue effort following the devastating earthquake that has killed more than 2000 people.

Click on the headline to read the story

India offers support to Morocco after devastating earthquake, over 2000 deaths

French President Emmanuel Macron has said that the country was ready to deploy technical teams in Morocco if the country asks for help. Macron was speaking at news conference at G20 Summit in New Delhi.

French foreign ministry official confirmed on Saturday that one French citizen had died and eight were injured in the devastating Morocco earthquake.

Pope Francis offered prayers for those who were affected by Morocco earthquake during his Sunday service.

"I pray for the injured, for those who have lost their lives, so many of them, and for their relatives," he said, speaking to crowds in St Peter's Square after delivering his Angelus message.

"We stand with the people of Morocco," he added.
 

Morocco's former tourism minister Lahcen Haddad has said said it proving to be difficult to carry out rescue effort in small remote villages located in the hilly terrain of Atlas mountains. He told BBC that building in such remote villages date back "centuries and centuries" and that "some of them are perched on mountains"

Canadian-Moroccan Entertainer Nora Fatehi Shows Appreciation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India for Their Support to Earthquake-Affected Morocco.

Fatehi, a renowned artist known for her dance performances in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Malayalam films, conveyed her gratitude to the Prime Minister following his announcement that India stands ready to provide any necessary aid to Morocco during this challenging period.

"Thank you Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this big support! You were one of the first countries to raise awareness and extend a helping hand! "The Moroccan people are very thankful and grateful! Jai Hind," she wrote on her Instagram Story alongside PM Modi's post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said on Sunday that his country will send search and rescue teams and other aid to quake-hit Morocco after it received a formal request for help from Rabat. 

"It is a sign of Spanish solidarity and of the sense of friendship which unites the people of Spain with the people of Morocco," Foreign Minister Albares told Catalunya Radio.

The Marrakesh airport operated as usual despite the deadly earthquake on Friday. The airport saw a slightly heavier passenger flow than usual on Saturday. Many were seen standing outside the terminal or resting on the floor inside while waiting for their flights.

According to reports on Sunday, the airport claimed that no flight was canceled due to the earthquake. 

The United Nations said on Sunday that it will assist in humanitarian aid efforts for Morocco, and will assess reconstruction needs in the longer term.

"We stand ready to assist in whatever way we can once we're requested to do that. But part of what's going to need to happen is we'll need to know how many people there are, who have been affected, how big the needs are, ultimately whether there are needs for food, for shelter, for medicines. First we'll need a request for help and then we'll need to assess the situation on the ground," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the UN secretary-general.

Authorities in Morocco have declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the deadly earthquake. 

Troops and emergency services have scrambled to reach remote mountain villages where victims are still feared trapped.

A Chinese medical team in earthquake-ravaged Morocco is performing multiple cesarean section surgeries at a medical center in Ben Guerir. 

"The shake was very strong. The houses were shaking heavily. Fortunately, there were no casualties among our medical team. Our medical staff are taking the risk of aftershocks to complete the work in the operating room," said Ma Nan, a doctor of the medical team.

"After the earthquake, there has been a significant shortage of medical equipment and supplies in the hospital. Therefore, we have been overcoming these difficulties through our own efforts and trying our best to fulfill the responsibilities of a medical worker," Nan added.

UNESCO world heritage buildings in Marrakesh have suffered grave damage due to the earthquake. According to a report by the news agency Reuters, Aadelegation from UNESCO arrived in Marrakesh on Saturday to assist evaluation work of the damaged cultural relics and prepare for restoration work.

The hotel in Morocco owned by Cristiano Ronaldo has transformed into a shelter for survivors of the significant earthquake. 

The fate of Morocco's scheduled football match on Saturday night for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers became uncertain due to a devastating earthquake that claimed the lives of over 2,000 individuals.

Morocco had a match against Liberia planned at Agadir's Adrar Stadium. The earthquake, which occurred late Friday night, resulted in extensive casualties and structural damage, affecting communities from the Atlas Mountains villages to the renowned city of Marrakech. The rescue efforts faced significant challenges as rescuers navigated treacherous roads strewn with boulders to reach the most severely impacted remote mountain villages.

In Marrakech, families endured a second night outdoors, seeking refuge on the streets, as Morocco's most lethal earthquake in over fifty years left them apprehensive about the safety of their homes. The uncertainty was palpable among many Marrakech residents, located approximately 70 km (45 miles) northeast of the earthquake's epicentre. They were troubled by concerns that their residences may have been harmed by the earthquake, which has claimed over 2,000 lives, or that a subsequent aftershock might pose a threat in the near future.

With a magnitude of 6.8, classifying it as a "strong" earthquake, and a relatively shallow depth, the destruction wrought by the earthquake was substantial.

While earthquakes of this magnitude are not much frequent in the region, they are not entirely unexpected.

Read the report to know more. 

Morocco's most devastating earthquake in many years has resulted in a death toll exceeding 2,000, according to officials on Saturday (September 9). In response, military personnel and emergency services are working urgently to access remote mountain communities where there is a concern that people may still be trapped.

The government has officially announced a three-day period of national mourning, but the Red Cross cautioned that the process of repairing the extensive damage might extend over several years.