A deadly earthquake that swept through Central Morocco on Friday night has left at least 1,037 persons dead, the interior ministry has said.
The earthquake, magnitude 6.8 struck in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night. A local official said most deaths were in mountain areas that were hard to reach.
The quake sent people rushing into the streets in Marrakesh and other cities.
The earthquake struck just after 23:00 local time, at a relatively shallow depth of 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, according to the US Geological Survey.
Reports say Marrakesh brought in more than 10 million tourists in 2022 and was one of the most popular tourist destinations in Africa.
But this current disaster is not the first setback to affect the tourism sector in the city.
According to Marrakesh’s Regional Council, the tourism sector during the pandemic recorded an estimated decline of 80% and experienced a large loss in terms of income, amounting to about $20bn (£16bn).
The earthquake was felt in Rabat, Casablanca and several areas south of Marrakesh. Many victims are believed to be in remote villages, especially in the Atlas Mountains.
Authorities have called on residents to donate blood as the hospitals have seen an influx of injured people.
World leaders including Britain’s Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden offered help to Morocco.
British Airways is now using bigger aircrafts on its route to Marrakesh, should stranded UK tourists need to get home.
In show of solidarity, Algeria has said it is ready to open its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco, despite breaking off ties with its neighbour two years ago, Reuters news agency reports.
The two countries have been embroiled in a diplomatic row, and in 2021 Algeria severed ties with Morocco.
The move included suspending direct flights in both directions.
But following the earthquake, Algeria’s presidency has said in a statement it is ready to provide humanitarian aid and people “in solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people, if Morocco requests such help”.
