Morocco Mourns After Deadly Earthquake

Morocco is in mourning after a rare and powerful earthquake struck the country on Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and damaging historic buildings in Marrakech and other cities.

The quake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, was the strongest to hit that part of the North African nation in more than 120 years.

The epicenter of the quake was in the High Atlas mountains, about 72 kilometers southwest of Marrakech, a city of some 840,000 people and a popular tourist destination.

The quake was felt as far away as Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier on the Atlantic coast.

The quake caused widespread panic and destruction, especially in rural areas where many people live in mud-brick houses that are not built to withstand such force. Hundreds of buildings collapsed, trapping people under the rubble and cutting off electricity and water supplies.

Rescue workers and volunteers are searching for survivors amid the debris, while hospitals are overwhelmed with the injured.

Morocco’s Interior Ministry has urged people to keep calm and to avoid panic, saying that the government has activated all resources available to deal with the tragedy.

King Mohammed VI has declared three days of national mourning and has ordered an investigation into the causes and consequences of the quake. He has also expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and his solidarity with the people of Morocco.

The quake has also drawn international attention and sympathy, with world leaders offering their support and assistance to Morocco.

The United Nations, the European Union, the United States, France, Spain and Algeria are among the countries that have pledged to send humanitarian aid and experts to help with the relief efforts.

The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and damage caused by the quake and commended the “swift response” of the Moroccan authorities.