Morocco/earthquake: Death toll jumps to 2,122 deaths, number of injured to 2,421

The death toll from the devastating earthquake, which hit Friday night Morocco and was centered in the Igil commune in the Hawz region, has jumped to 2,122 deaths and the number of injured to 2,421, including over 1,000 in critical condition, according to an updated report from the Ministry of the Interior.

The number of deaths reached 1,293 in the most seriously affected province of Al Haouz, while the province of Taroudant recorded 452 deaths, 41 in the Ouarzazate region, and 15 in the Marrakech municipality, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

“Meanwhile, no new deaths were reported in the Chichaoua, Azilal, Agadir-Ida-Ou-Tanane, Casablanca, Youssoufia, and Tinghir regions,” the statement said, adding that authorities continue their efforts to rescue and evacuate the injured and provide care to the victims, mobilizing all necessary resources to address the painful aftermath of this tragedy.

On Saturday afternoon, King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, chaired a working session to assess the situation following the deadly powerful quake. He gave his instructions to provide care to the victims and to expeditiously continue field relief efforts and assist the victims.

The Monarch declared three days of national mourning with the half-masting of national flags on all public facilities.

During this session, the Monarch was briefed by the officials on the latest developments in the affected prefectures and provinces, notably in some localities that were inaccessible during the evening and where the situation point and relief intervention were not possible until sunrise, said a press release issued by the Royal Office.

The King was also informed about the measures taken to quickly address this large-scale natural catastrophe. These emergency measures, subject to royal instructions and constant follow-up by since the first moments that followed the earthquake and witnessed the intervention of the Royal Armed Forces, local authorities, security services, Protection civil units as well as the ministries concerned.

The emergency measures focused on reinforcing the national blood stock, supplying drinking water to affected areas, distributing food kits, tents and blankets to the affected population, quickly resuming public services.

Upon the Instructions of King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the Royal Armed Forces urgently deployed significant human and logistical air and land resources, as well as specialized intervention modules based on search and rescue teams and a medical-surgical field hospital.

King Mohammed VI has given his instructions to immediately set up an inter-ministerial commission in charge of carrying out an emergency rehabilitation and aid program to reconstruct as soon as possible the destroyed homes in the affected areas.
The goal is to encourage economic operators for a quick resumption of activities in the affected. It was also decided to open a special bank account at Treasury and Bank Al Maghrib to receive the voluntary solidarity contributions of citizens as well as private and public instructions.
With all its components, the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity will ensure full mobilization to support citizens in affected areas. The emphasis has also been placed on creating stocks of basic necessities (medicines, tents, beds, food…etc.) in every region of the Kingdom to prepare for any type of disaster.
The King, Commander of the Faithful, also gave his Instructions to the minister of Islamic Affairs to perform the Absent Prayer (Salat Al Ghaib) this Sunday noon in all mosques throughout the Kingdom, for the rest of the victims’ souls.
The Sovereign also expressed the sincere thanks of the kingdom of Morocco to all brotherly and friendly countries that expressed their solidarity with the Moroccan people on this situation, and many of which expressed their readiness to provide aid in these special circumstances.

The Friday 7-magnitude earthquake is believed to be the deadliest and most powerful tremor hitting the country in decades.