Morocco mourns its dead this Monday, September 11, after the violent earthquake which struck the country during the night from Friday to Saturday. Magnitude 7 according to the Moroccan Center for Scientific and Technical Research, and 6.8 according to the American seismological service, it is the most powerful measured in Morocco. It left at least 2,122 dead and 2,421 injured, the Interior Ministry announced in a final official report on Sunday, which is still likely to rise. The kingdom has declared a three-day national mourning, the royal cabinet announced on Saturday, following a meeting chaired by King Mohammed VI.
Morocco accepts aid from four countries including Spain and Great Britain
Morocco announced on Sunday that it had accepted aid from only four countries after the powerful earthquake that struck it: Spain, Great Britain, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates. The Interior Ministry said in a statement that Morocco had responded favorably “at this stage” to offers from these four countries “to send search and rescue teams”, while several other states, including France, said they were ready to provide assistance.
A 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Morocco during the night from Friday to Saturday
© / AFP
The Spanish, British, Qatari and Emirati rescue teams “entered into contact today (Sunday)” with their counterparts in Morocco with a view to coordinating their efforts, added the same source. While thanking all the countries which offered to send rescuers, the ministry affirms that Morocco accepted that of four of them only “after having carried out a careful assessment of the needs on the ground and taking into account the fact that a lack of coordination could be counterproductive. Other offers could be accepted in the future “if needs evolve”, specifies the press release. Many countries, from France to the United States, including Israel, had offered their help.
86 Spanish rescuers sent with specialized search dogs
Spain announced that it had sent 86 rescuers accompanied by dogs specialized in searching for victims to Morocco, hit by a deadly earthquake, on Sunday, after receiving an official request for help from Rabat. An A400 military plane took off in the morning from a base in Zaragoza (north-east) with a first team of 56 rescuers on board bound for Marrakech to “help in the search and rescue of survivors of the devastating earthquake suffered in our neighboring country”, indicated the Spanish Ministry of Defense on X (formerly Twitter).
The rescuers, accompanied by four dogs, belong to the Spanish Military Emergency Unit (UME) specializing in the management of natural disasters. A second plane flew in the evening from the Torrejon de Ardoz base, near Madrid, carrying 30 other rescuers and four more dogs, according to an Interior Ministry spokesperson. An EMU unit was sent to Turkey in February after a devastating earthquake. This unit is equipped with tools for drilling and cutting reinforced concrete, as well as means of detecting toxic or explosive substances to allow rescuers to work safely, according to the Ministry of Defense.
French operators offer free calls to Morocco
All French mobile operators offer their customers free calls and text messages to Morocco hit by a violent earthquake, Minister Delegate for Digital Jean-Noël Barrot announced on Sunday.
“Following the tragic earthquake, calls and text messages to Morocco will be free for customers of operators Bouygues Telecom, Free, Orange and SFR. Absolute solidarity with the victims, their families and loved ones,” the minister wrote on his account (ex-Twitter). SFR joins from “this evening at midnight” other operators whose customers already benefit from free communications with Morocco, he said.