Death toll in Morocco’s deadliest earthquake has surpassed 1,000. The 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit Central Morocco on Friday night with several buildings destroyed.
The Alarmee reports that the Morocco’s interior ministry says 1,037 people have so far been confirmed dead in the deadliest quake to have hit the country.
More than 1,000 other people have been injured, according to Morocco’s state TV channel Al Aoula, which cited the interior ministry.
The ministry said 721 people are in critical condition.
According to CNN, rescue teams are reportedly struggling to reach the most affected areas, with roads blocked by debris. One witness said “we are hoping for miracles from the rubble.”
The epicenter was in the High Atlas mountains, about 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, a popular tourist city of about 840,000 people. The city’s historic walls, first laid out in the early 12th century, have been damaged.
The quake was the most powerful to shake the area surrounding Marrakech in more than 120 years, according to the US Geological Survey.
Algeria said it would open its airspace for humanitarian aid and medical flights going to and from Morocco, despite the countries’ strained relations, Algerian state news agency APS reported, citing a statement from the country’s president.
“Algeria expressed today, Saturday, its full readiness to provide humanitarian aid to Morocco and put all the material and human capabilities in the wake of the violent earthquake that struck this country, according to a statement by the Presidency of the Republic,” APS reported.
“The authorities also decided Upper Algeria opened its airspace to flights to transport humanitarian aid and the wounded and injured,” it said.
