Morocco earthquake death toll surges past 1000; UAE issues warning

The death toll due to the midnight earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday, September 9 has risen to 1,037, and more than 1,000 other people have been injured, according to the state-run TV channel Al Aoula, which cited the country’s interior ministry.

The ministry added that 721 people are in critical condition.

The 6.8 magnitude earthquake which originated in the High Atlas mountain range, is the deadliest to hit Morocco in decades.

The popular tourist city of Marrakech, the city closest to the epicentre has suffered extensive damage to its infrastructure and historic buildings.

Muitos destroços e um cenário assustador em Marrocos.

Imagens: Al Aoula HD. pic.twitter.com/0GS9LpMlOe

— Gabriel Menezes (@briel_menezes) September 9, 2023

Algeria opens airspace for humanitarian aide

Algerian authorities “have decided to open the airspace to flights transporting humanitarian aid and injured” from the quake, the president’s office said in a statement.

Algeria closed its airspace to all Moroccan aircraft in September 2021 after having cut diplomatic ties with the country.

UAE issues warning to citizens in Morocco

The UAE’s Embassy in Morocco has asked citizens in the country to exercise caution.

In a statement issued via its social media account on Twitter, the embassy issued a helpline number for those impacted by the earthquake.

تهيب سفارة دولة الإمارات في الرباط مواطني الدولة المتواجدين في المملكة المغربية بضرورة توخي الحيطة والحذر بسبب وقوع زلزال في مناطق مختلفة من البلاد. تؤكد البعثة على ضرورة اتباع تعليمات السلامة الصادرة عن السلطات المغربية والتواصل في حالات الطوارئ على الرقم 0097180024 أو…

— UAE Embassy in Rabat (@UaeRabat) September 9, 2023

Additionally, UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the ministries to set up an air bridge to deliver critical relief supplies and other forms of support to those affected by the earthquake that struck various areas in Morocco.