Morocco earthquake – live: Over 2,000 killed as warning country will take years to recover

Morocco could take “several years” to recover from the devastating earthquake that has left more than 2,000 dead.

Of the 2,059 injured, more than 1,200 are said to be seriously hurt, the country’s interior ministry said.

The damage from the quake could take several years to repair, according to the Red Cross.

The tremors were centred in the High Atlas mountains late on Friday night.

The epicentre was said to be in the Ighil area, about 40 miles (70km) south of Marrakech.

“This will not be a week or two response as our region has seen in the big Syria/Türkiye earthquake, again we are looking at many months if not several years of response,” said Hossam Elsharkawi, the Red Cross Middle East and North Africa director.

Montasir Itri, a resident of the village of Asni, near the epicentre of the earthquake, said most houses there were damaged.

“Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village,” he said.

Key Points

• US Geological Survey releases map revealing location of 7.2-magnitude earthquake

• In photos: Earthquake in Morocco that killed 296 led people to rush out of their homes and turned buildings to rubble

• Cause of Morocco's disastrous earthquake decoded

• USGS estimates up to 2 per cent of Morocco's GDP may be affected by quake

• Modi begins G20 by paying tribute to Morocco

UK sends 60 search and rescue specialists to Morocco

19:21 , Joe Middleton

The UK government has sent 60 search and rescue specialists, four search dogs and rescue equipment to Morocco.

While an emergency medical team has also been deployed to assess the existing healthcare capacity and the extent of the damage

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK is sending immediate support to Morocco including a team of 60 search and rescue specialists and four rescue dogs to assist with the rescue effort.

“I remain in contact with Foreign Minister Bourita and offer my deepest sympathies to the people of Morocco after this tragic event.”

King Mohammed VI of Morocco thanks Spain, Qatar, the UK and UAE for sending aid

21:21 , Joe Middleton

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has thanked Spain, Qatar, the UK and the UAE for sending aid in the wake of the devastating earthquake that hit the country on Friday, state TV said in a post on social media site X late on Sunday.

Morocco assessed aid needs and considered the importance of coordinating relief effort before accepting help from the four countries, it added.

CCTV captures moment earthquake strikes busy Marrakech street

20:21 , Joe Middleton

Charity ActionAid UK launches emergency appeal

18:56 , Joe Middleton

Charity ActionAid UK has launched an emergency Morocco earthquake appeal to support the communities most affected by the disaster.

Kirsten Sutherland, humanitarian programme co-ordinator at ActionAid Spain, which has worked in Morocco for more than 20 years, said many families have “lost everything”.

“In just minutes, the lives of hundreds of thousands of people have been turned upside down,” she said.

“Many families have lost everything - their loved ones, their homes and their belongings. Damage to infrastructure is hampering access to information and to affected communities, especially in remote areas.

“Our objective is to support those communities that have been most badly affected by the earthquake.”

Death toll climbs to 2,122

17:33 , Joe Middleton

The death toll in an earthquake that hit Morocco late on Friday, has risen to 2,122, while 2,421 people were injured, state TV said on Sunday.

Watch live: Rescuers search for survivors following deadly earthquake in Morocco

16:15 , Joe Middleton

Warning: This livestream contains scenes that some viewers may find distressing.

Rescuers look for survivors as at least 2,012 people were killed and 2,059 were injured following a powerful earthquake that struck Morocco.

The quake was the strongest tremor to hit the North African country in the last century, according to Morocco’s National Geophysical Institute.

The tremors were centred in the High Atlas mountains late on Friday night (8 September).

The epicentre was said to be in the Ighil area, about 40 miles (70km) south of Marrakech.

Watch live: Rescuers search for survivors following deadly earthquake in Morocco

France is ready to help Morocco, says Macron

15:48 , Joe Middleton

France said today it is ready to help Morocco and is awaiting formal request for assistance.

“France is ready to offer its aid to Morocco if Morocco decides it is useful,” President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday during a news conference at the G20 Summit in New Delhi.

“Moroccan authorities know exactly what can be delivered, the nature (of what can be delivered) and the timing...We are at their disposal. We did everything we could do.... The second they request this aid, it will be deployed,” he added.

France was among nations offering help on Saturday following the quake late on Friday evening, which hit villages in the High Atlas mountains and also damaged the city of Marrakech.

“Our embassy in Morocco is fully mobilised...today Moroccan authorities are in charge... An assessment (of the situation) is under way... At this stage Morocco has not asked for help,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre told BFM television earlier on Sunday.

Four French citizens were among those killed in the quake, and 15 were injured, the ministry said in an update on French casualties on Sunday afternoon.

15:12 , Chris Stevenson

Here are some of the latest images from the search for survivors:

The need for aid

14:50 , Chris Stevenson

In Moulay Brahim, a village near the epicentre and south of Marrakech, residents described how they had dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands.

"We lost our houses and we lost people also and we are sleeping like two days outside," said 36-year-old Yassin Noumghar, a Moulay Brahim resident. Complaining of shortages of water, food and power, Nr Noumghar told Reuters he had received little government aid so far. "We want just for our government to help us," he said, expressing a frustration voiced by others.

Later, sacks of food were unloaded from a truck which local official Mouhamad al-Hayyan said had been organised by the government and civil society organisations.

Damage to historic mosque

14:16 , Chris Stevenson

Morocco's deadly earthquake badly damaged one of the most important historical sites in the High Atlas mountains, an earth-and-stone mosque built by a medieval dynasty that conquered North Africa and Spain.

Moroccan media reported that parts of the Tinmel Mosque had collapsed. Responding to a question frm about the reported damage to Tinmel, a Moroccan Culture Ministry source said "the ministry has decided to restore it and will make budget for it", without giving details.

The 12th-century mosque was built where the Almohad dynasty established its first capital in a remote Atlas valley before going on to seize Marrakech, proclaim its leader Caliph, and march on across the region propelled by religious zeal.

The United Nations cultural agency Unesco said it had heard of "very important destructions to the Tinmel Mosque", which it added had been proposed for listing as a World Heritage site, but added it was still waiting to send a team to assess the damage.

King calls for prayers for the dead

14:00 , Anuj Pant

Morocco has declared three days of mourning and King Mohammed VI called for prayers for the dead to be held at mosques across the country on Sunday.

It was Morocco’s deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, according to the US Geological Survey.

Residents describe digging through rubble with their bare hands

13:45 , Anuj Pant

In Moulay Brahim, a village near the epicentre some 40km (25 miles) south of Marrakech, residents described how they had dug the dead from the rubble using their bare hands, reported Reuters.

“We lost our houses and we lost people also and we are sleeping like two days outside,” said 36-year-old Yassin Noumghar, another Moulay Brahim resident.

“No food. No water. We lost also electricity,” he added, adding that he had received little government aid so far.

“We want just for our government to help us,” he said, expressing a frustration voiced by others.

Some aid efforts were underway in his village. Residents said food donations were coming from friends and family who live elsewhere. On Sunday morning cheese, bread and hot drinks were being distributed at the mosque.

Makeshift tents had been erected on a dirt soccer pitch.

Residents were wrapped in blankets after spending the night outside. One man, who was salvaging mattresses and clothes from his wrecked home, said he believed his neighbours were still under the rubble.

Watch live: Aftermath of Morocco earthquake

13:30 , Anuj Pant

Watch The Independent’s live video coverage of the tragic earthquake in Morocco that has claimed over 2,000 lives and left more than 1,000 seriously injured, of the total 2,059 injuries that have been reported so far.

Nations that have offered aid to Morocco

13:00 , Anuj Pant

Several countries have offered aid to Morocco, following the devastating earthquake that struck the region and killed over 2,000 people.

One of the countries is neighbouring Algeria, that Morocco has historically not shared good relations with. The neighbours had two years ago cut off diplomatic ties with each other.

Spain

Spain has received an aid request from Morocco, following which it will send search and rescue teams and aid, the country’s foreign minister said.

“It is a sign of Spanish solidarity and of the sense of friendship which unites the people of Spain with the people of Morocco,” foreign minister Jose Manuel Albares told Catalunya Radio, after receiving a call from his Moroccan counterpart.

France

France said it is still awaiting a formal request from Morocco, its former colony, pending which it said it will send aid to the country.

Tunisia

The north African country had readied a team on Saturday to help in aid and rescue efforts. The team includes about 50 paramedics and personnel from a specialized unit, and search dogs, as well as advanced thermal monitoring devices, a drone to detect victims under the rubble and a field hospital. It will be dispatched to Morocco pending authorisation.

Taiwan

The east Asian island nation’s fire department has set up a team of 120 rescuers on standby, that will be ready to go to Morocco once they get instructions from their foreign ministry.

Turkey

Officials from the country that had suffered its own calamitous earthquake this year said that 265 aid workers from its AFAD disaster management authority, the Turkish Red Crescent and other Turkish NGOs were ready to travel to the earthquake region in case Morocco calls for international assistance.

Turkey was ready to deliver 1,000 tents to the affected areas, it said. However, its teams are yet to depart.

Algeria

Morocco’s neighbour, both of whom share bad relations, announced it will open its air space for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco. In a statement on Saturday, Algeria’s presidency said it was ready to provide humanitarian aid and offer all its material and human capabilities in solidarity with the Moroccan people, if Morocco requests such help.

UK offers aid to Morocco

12:44 , Chris Stevenson

The UK’s justice secretary, Alex Chalk, has described the earthquake in Morocco as an “absolutely appalling situation”.

He told Sky News: “We stand ready to provide whatever assistance is required.”

Discussing what the UK could do, he said: “We have certain expertise in terms of search and rescue.

“I know the Foreign Office are in close contact with our counterparts in that country.”

Maisie Smith reveals she left Morocco two days before major earthquake

12:30 , Anuj Pant

Maisie Smith has revealed that she was in Morocco two days before the country was hit by a major earthquake on Friday night.

Smith, 22, has offered her condolences to those affected by the tragedy.

“I can’t believe it,” she wrote in a caption on Instagram alongside a photo of herself strolling through the Medina in Marrakech.

“We only just flew back from this beautiful country just two days ago.

“My thoughts are with all the victims and the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy.”

Smith had previously been updating fans about her trip on Instagram, posting photos of herself out and about in Marrakech.

Many residents in Marrakech have said they spent the night outside their homes in fear that a second quake might strike the region.

Read more below.

Maisie Smith reveals she left Morocco two days before earthquake

In pictures: Tourists in queue at Marrakech airport up to leave Morocco

12:15 , Anuj Pant

Tourists in Morocco are leaving the country after the powerful late night earthquake on Friday killed over 2,000 people.

Several foreigners have been seen queuing at the airport in Marrakech, which is about 70km away from the epicentre of the quake. Some were seen sleeping at the airport as they waited for a flight to take them home.

ICYMI: Is it safe to travel to Marrakech right now?

12:00 , Anuj Pant

Thousands of British holidaymakers are in the area, with many more booked to go there this weekend and later in September. This is the travel picture – with much still unknown.

The Independent calculates from flight data that around 5,000-8,000 UK holidaymakers are in the Marrakech area. Many are staying in the ancient heart of the city, or in modern hotels on the outskirts.

Trekking in the Atlas mountains is also popular, particularly in autumn when temperatures start to drop.

A large number of UK flights arrived in Marrakech on Friday, including British Airways, easyJet and Tui from London Gatwick, easyJet from Luton, Ryanair from London Stansted and Tui from Birmingham and Manchester.

The return legs departed normally before the earthquake struck.

Since the earthquake, flights at Marrakech airport have continued to operate normally. Saturday morning’s operations began with the usual Royal Air Maroc flight to Casablanca, followed by departures on Air France, Ryanair, Transavia and Tui to a number of French airports. Two Ryanair flights from Marrakech to Brussels and Beauvais in northern France have been cancelled.

Read more from Simon Calder below.

Morocco earthquake: Is it safe to travel at the moment?

People in Morocco have been sleeping outdoors since Friday’s quake

11:45 , Anuj Pant

Families in Marrakech woke up outside on Sunday morning after spending a second night on the streets after the deadliest earthquake in more than half a century on Friday night.

There were similar scenes across parts of Morocco. By Saturday, the number of people killed had risen to over 2,000 and another 2,059 were injured, according to the country’s interior ministry.

Since Friday’s quake, the north African country’s worst since 1960, people across parts of Morocco have been sleeping outdoors.

Watch below.

‘Ten seconds and everything was gone’: In ancient cities and mountain towns, rescuers seek survivors

11:30 , Anuj Pant

Morocco worked Sunday to rescue survivors and prayed for victims of the country’s strongest earthquake in more than a century, while soldiers and aid workers brought water and supplies to mountain villages in ruins. More than 2,000 people are dead – a number that is expected to rise.

Those left homeless by the destruction of Friday night’s earthquake slept outside Saturday, in the streets of the ancient city of Marrakech or under makeshift canopies in Atlas Mountain towns like Moulay Brahim, among the hardest-hit.

The worst destruction is in small, rural communities that are hard for rescuers to reach because of the mountainous terrain.

“We felt a huge shake like it was doomsday,” Moulay Brahim resident Ayoub Toudite said.

“Ten seconds and everything was gone.”

In ancient cities and mountain towns, rescuers seek survivors from Morocco's quake of the century

‘We felt the ground moving’: New aftershocks felt in Marrakech

11:22 , Anuj Pant

Aftershocks have been felt in Marrakech on Sunday, just days after a powerful earthquake struck Morocco.

One of the new tremors measured at a 3.9 magnitude on the Richter scale, according to the US Geological Survey.

The tremors reportedly happened just days after a powerful earthquake struck about 70km away from Marrakech and led to over 2,000 deaths and thousands of injuries.

“We felt the ground moving,” Khadijah Satou, a resident of the city, told Al Jazeera. “No damage, but it’s highly noticeable,” she added.

France awaits formal request from Morocco to offer help: ‘We’re fully mobilised’

11:15 , Anuj Pant

France has said it is ready to help Morocco in the aftermath of the earthquake that has led to over 2,000 deaths in the country.

However, it said it is waiting for officials of Morocco, a former French colony, to formally send a request for help.

“Our embassy in Morocco is fully mobilised... today Moroccan authorities are in charge... An assessment (of the situation) is under way... At this stage Morocco has not asked for help,” French foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre told BFM television.

Emmanuel Macron had earlier on Saturday offered Morocco help.

France had also earlier said one of its citizens had died in the earthquake, while eight others had been injured. This tally had remained unchanged on Sunday, according to the spokesperson.

Moroccan villagers mourn after earthquake brings destruction to their rural mountain home

11:00 , Anuj Pant

The ground shook with a force few had ever felt, thundering through the remote Moroccan village in the dark of night.

When the earthquake was over late Friday, the town carved into the Atlas Mountains lay in devastation – possibly dozens dead, scores of homes crumpled and walls reduced to rubble. Soon crews were listening for desperate sounds of life within the ruins of Moulay Brahim.

A village of fewer than 3,000 people, Moulay Brahim attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts with its stunning vistas and proximity to Marrakech. Streets brimmed with small hotels and cafes overlooking gorges and green valleys.

But after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 across Morocco, the scene in the village is bleak.

People in the poor rural community about 45km (28 miles) northeast of the quake epicenter live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block, many of which are no longer standing or safe to inhabit. Fallen walls exposed the innards of damaged homes, their rubble sliding down hills.

Moroccan villagers mourn after earthquake brings destruction to their rural mountain home

Photo shows two men hugging each other as they dig graves for victims of earthquake

10:45 , Anuj Pant

A gut-wrenching photo has shown two men hugging each other as they dig graves for those who died in the devastating earthquake in Morocco.

The photo, taken by a photographer for The Associated Press, shows the men comforting each other in Ouargane village near Marrakech.

Holidaymaker talks about moment earthquake struck the country

10:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Holidaymaker Nadia Cryer shares what she experienced during the devastating quake that struck Morocco.Over 2,000 people have been killed and at least 2,059 people injured after the near-7 magnitude quake struck the country.“My brain couldn’t accept that it was an earthquake. I was just terrified,” Ms Cryer told Sky News.Watch here as she shares her experience of one of the most powerful earthquakes to ever strike the country.

Morocco earthquake: Holidaymaker talks about moment disaster struck the country

Morocco earthquake in photos: Survivors comfort loved ones as harrowing rescue efforts continue

10:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

'Next 24-48 hours critical in terms of saving lives,' says top Red Cross official

09:45 , Anuj Pant

The next two days are critical for Morocco in terms of saving lives, a top Red Cross official has said amid the devastating earthquake that struck the country late Friday night.

“The next 24 to 48 hours will be critical in terms of saving lives,” Caroline Holt, global director of operations for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said in a statement.

More than 300,000 people have been affected by the earthquake, according to the World Health Organisation.

'We are in dire need of ambulances'

09:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

Villagers in Morocco’s mountaintop rural areas have appealed for help as the devastating near-7 magnitude quake that struck the country on Friday has brought down their homes.

“We felt a huge shake like it was doomsday. Ten seconds and everything was gone,” a resident of the village Moulay Brahim said, according to The Associated Press.

“People are suffering here very much. We are in dire need of ambulances. Please send us ambulances to Moulay Brahim. The matter is urgent. Please save us,” he added.

Residents say the buildings, especially in the rural areas, weren’t designed for such violent quakes with many wondering how long it may take for the region to recover.

Quake survivors sleep outdoors for second night

09:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Fearing aftershocks and that their homes could be unsafe to return to, families in the worst-hit Marrakech city spent the second night huddling and sleeping on the streets following Friday’s devastating quake that took the lives of thousands in Morocco.

Many said their homes were likely damaged by the devastating quake or that an aftershock could destroy them in the coming hours or days, Reuters reported.

“I cannot sleep there. I am asking the authorities to help me and bring in an expert to assess whether it is possible for me to return to the house or not. If there is a risk, I will not return to the house,” 51-year-old Mouhamad Ayat Elhaj, a resident of the old city, said.

Damage from Morocco earthquake could take 'several years' to fix

08:10 , Vishwam Sankaran

The damage from the devastating, near-7 magnitude Morocco earthquake could take several years to repair, the Red Cross has warned.

Almost all buildings in some mountain-top villages in Morocco, including Tafeghaghte, a town 60km southwest of the historic city of Marrakech, was turned to rubble, local reports said.

“This will not be a week or two response as our region has seen in the big Syria/Türkiye earthquake, again we are looking at many months if not several years of response,” said Hossam Elsharkawi, the organisation’s Middle East and North Africa director.

“Our top priority now is search and rescue to get to those who are trapped, to provide first aid, and to take care of survivors,” he said.

Morocco quake 'stark reminder' to test buildings for shaking

07:45 , Vishwam Sankaran

Earthquake geologists studying the Morocco earthquake say the devastating seismic event is a stark warning to test buildings, especially in areas that have previously experienced tremors, for strong shaking.

“News out of Morocco has been dire, with >1k fatalities so far and many images of collapsed, apparently unreinforced masonry,” earthquake scientist Judith Hubbard posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Many experts, including those at the USGS, have pointed out that while earthquakes in northern Africa are not frequent, they are not unexpected as well, with Morocco positioned at the juncture of a tectonic crash between the African and Eurasian continental plates, moving slowly at about 4-6 mm per year.

In 1960, a magnitude-5.8 quake that struck near Morocco’s Agadir caused 12,000-15,000 deaths in coastal western Morocco.

However, experts pointed out that despite past experience with a devastating quake, many houses, especially in the rural regions of the country still seem to have buildings vulnerable to shaking.

“Buildings in the area may never have been tested by strong shaking. This is a stark reminder that many structures around the world remain a seismic risk,” Dr Hubbard said.

Geologist decodes why Morocco earthquake's measurement varies and why it matters

07:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

An expert has revealed why there was a variation in the magnitude of the earthquake that was reported in Morocco.

The country’s own National Institute of Geophysics reported the late Friday night earthquake as having a magnitude of 7.2 on the Ritcher scale. In contrast, however, the US Geological Survey measured the quake to be at 6.8.

While the difference of 0.4 units may not seem much, geologists say a 7.2 earthquake can be 2.5 times larger than a magnitude 6.8 event, and release nearly four times the energy.

Experts say the precise magnitude of the devastating quake in Morocco that has killed thousands could vary in the coming days as more data emerges on the disaster’s early moments.

“There is an uncertainty when you measure” earthquake magnitudes as different agencies tend to use different data and methodologies, seismologist Paul S Earle told The New York Times.

While the USGS uses stations across the globe to make measurements, Moroccan authorities, according to Dr Earle, most likely used local stations.

Further data and measurements in the coming days can settle this disparity, according to experts, who say calculating the precise magnitude can help better forecast the immediate risk posed by aftershocks as well as the region’s longer-term potential for similar quakes.

'Available to support Moroccan government,' UN says

06:30 , Vishwam Sankaran

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said yesterday that he was deeply saddened by the death of thousands from the earthquake that hit Morocco on Friday.

“The United Nations is available to the government to support it in its efforts to help the populations,” Mr Guterres said in a statement.

The UN chief expressed his solidarity and deepest condolences for the Moroccan people and families of victims and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.

Nathalie Fustier, the international body’s resident coordinator in Morocco, said the priority remains the search and rescue of people in the disaster area.

“The government of Morocco has deployed very important means to go there and provide assistance to the population and here at the United Nations, we are quite ready to assist them with their request, as soon as we request it,” Ms Fustier said.

French citizen died in Morocco as quake struck

06:15 , Vishwam Sankaran

One French citizen died and eight others were injured amid the devastating earthquake in Morocco on Friday that has killed thousands of people in the North African country.

The French citizen died of a cardiac arrest during the earthquake, the French foreign ministry said yesterday.

As rescue workers continue to save trapped individuals from the rubble, the death toll from the quake has steeply risen and currently stands at over 2,000 with more than 1,000 seriously injured.

Eiffel Tower goes dark in solidarity for victims

05:45 , Vishwam Sankaran

The Eiffel Tower’s lights in Paris were turned off yesterday night in tribute to victims of Morocco’s earthquake, AFP reported, citing Paris City Hall.

The devastating quake’s toll currently stands at over 2,000 people with over 1,000 seriously injured.

The Red Cross has warned that responding to the quake could take months if not years.

Morocco declares three days of mourning

05:15 , Vishwam Sankaran

After Morocco suffered one of its most devastating earthquakes in the last 120 years, the country’s government has declared three days of mourning.

As rescuers comb for survivors amid the debris of buildings brought down by the quake, King Mohammed VI has decreed three days of national mourning.

The monarch, who was abroad on Friday when the disaster struck, has also called for donations from citizens and local businesses.

Biden expresses support for Morocco

04:45 , Vishwam Sankaran

US president Joe Biden expressed his solidarity with the people of Morocco following the devastating earthquake that took thousands of lives.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of life and devastation caused by the earthquake in Morocco,” Mr Biden tweeted.

He said the US “stands by Morocco and my friend King Mohammed VI” at this difficult moment.

“And, my Administration is ready to provide any necessary assistance for the Moroccan people,” the US president added.

Apple boss tweets support for Morocco

04:15 , Vishwam Sankaran

Tech giant Apple’s chief Tim Cook expressed condolences and eagerness to support victims of the devastating earthquake in Morocco.

“Our hearts go out to all of those in Morocco impacted by the terrible earthquake,” Mr Cook said today.

“We’re thinking about you, and Apple will be making a donation to relief efforts on the ground,” he said in a post on X, the platform previously known as Twitter.

Almost entire Moroccan mountain village damaged by quake

03:43 , Vishwam Sankaran

A Moroccan mountain village has sustained heavy damage from the quake, Reuters reported.

“We have no house to take him to and have had no food since yesterday,” Saida Bodchich, a resident of a village about 20 km (12 miles) from Morocco’s highest peak, Mount Toubkal, said.

Almost all the buildings, mostly traditional structures of mud brick, stone, and rough wooden beams, have sustained damage from the quake.

Officials say most of the over 1,000 deaths have occurred in this village on the side of a valley where the road from Marrakech rises up into the High Atlas.

20 million people felt the earthquake

03:00 , Lydia Patrick

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that about 20 million people felt shaking from the earthquake - with over two million feeling strong vibrations.

The tremors of 8.8 magnitude were felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria, the Portuguese Institute for Sea and Atmosphere and Algeria’s Civil Defense agency said.

The epicentre was in the Igahil area of the Atlas Mountains, around 40km south of Marrakech.

Rescuers search for survivors trapped under rubble as Morocco hit by deadly quake

02:30 , Joe Middleton

Is it safe to travel at the moment?

01:30 , Lydia Patrick

As the death toll exceeds 1,300, travel correspondent Simon Calder shares if it is same to go to Morocco after the powerful quake.

Thousands of British holidaymakers are in the area, with many more booked to go there this weekend and later in September.

The Independent calculates from flight data that around 5,000-8,000 UK holidaymakers are in the Marrakech area. Many are staying in the ancient heart of the city, or in modern hotels on the outskirts.

Since the earthquake, flights at Marrakech airport have continued to operate normally.

At present there are no clear grounds to cancel without penalty; the Foreign Office stops well short of warning against travel to the region, saying only: “You should follow local media and safety instructions from local authorities.”

Get the full travel picture here

African football game to go ahead in Marrakech tomorrow - despite deadly quake

Sunday 10 September 2023 00:40 , Lydia Patrick

Congo and Gambia’s African Cup of Nations qualifier will go ahead tomorrow in Marrakech amidst the devastaton of the most powerful earthquake the country has ever seen.

According to Reuters the show will go on, despite reports players are traumatised after witnessing the first hand shock of the disaster in their Marrakech hotel.

The team coaches say the teams fled the building to sleep outdoors by the pool when the ground started to shake.

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet told Reuters: “We have been told our match on Sunday must go ahead. It’s quite strange that the Morocco game is off but ours is not.”

Congo coach Paul Put said to Reuters:“We are OK but still in shock. Mentally it’s difficult to keep up the concentration. We had to sleep outside, near the swimming pool. It was very scary and even now a complicated situation for the player.”

Death toll rises

Saturday 9 September 2023 23:08 , Chris Stevenson

The death toll from the earthquake that struck near Marrakech in Morocco late Friday night has now passed more than 2,000

At least 2,012 have been killed and more than 2,000 injured. Of those, More than 1.400 are in critical condition. A local official earlier said most deaths were in mountain areas that were hard to reach.

The epicentre of the quake was in the High Atlas mountains, according to the country’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network.

In 1960, a magnitude 5.8 tremor struck near the Moroccan city of Agadir and caused thousands of deaths. That quake prompted changes in construction rules in Morocco, but many buildings, especially rural homes, are not built to withstand such tremors.

Marrakech residents recount the horror

Saturday 9 September 2023 22:57 , Lydia Patrick

The ancient streets of the much-loved toursit destination have fallen victim to the shake.

In the heart of its old city, a mosque minaret had fallen in Jemaa al-Fna Square.

Jaouhari Mohamed told Reuters: “I still cant sleep in the house because of the shock and also because the old town is made up of old houses.”

Another resident Miloud Skrout said to Reuters: “Everything is God’s will but we sustained great harm... there is no way to enter houses and my parents are ill at home.”

“Our neighbours are under the rubble” - volunteers hunt for survivors

Saturday 9 September 2023 21:45 , Lydia Patrick

Rescuers dig through rubble for survivors in collapsed houses in remote mountain villages as the death toll exceeds 1,300 people.

Haunting scenes unfold in the village of Amizmiz near the epicentre, families grieve their relatives outside the hospital where 10 bodies are covered by blankets.

Speaking to Reuters, witness Mohamed Azaw said: “When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. But my neighbours couldn’t.

“Unfortunately no one was found alive in that family. The father and son were found dead and they are still looking for the mother and the daughter.”

World leaders share their support for Morocco

Saturday 9 September 2023 20:45 , Lydia Patrick

World leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Pedro Sanchez and Volodymyr Zelensky have expressed their solidarity with Morocco.

The French president shared on X: “We are all devastated after the terrible earthquake in Morocco. France stands ready to help with first aid.”

Prime minister of neighbouring Spain said: “Spain stands with the victims of this tragedy and their families.”

Volodymyr Zelensky also pledged his condolences, he posted: “Our deepest condolences to HM King Mohammed VI and all Moroccans for the lives lost in the horrible earthquake in the Marrakech region. I wish those injured a fast recovery. Ukraine stands in solidarity with Morocco during this tragic time.”

Morocco announce period of national mourning

Saturday 9 September 2023 20:10 , Lydia Patrick

Morocco have declared three days of national mourning to remember the victims of the catastrophic earthquake.

King Mohammed VI announced the flag will be hung at half mast throughout the country after the national disaster has claimed over 1000 lives.

How can I help victims of the earthquake?

Saturday 9 September 2023 19:36 , Lydia Patrick

Emergency workers and volunteers continue to plough through rubble to search for survivors of the 6.8 magnitude quake which has so far claimed over 1000 lives.

The Red Cross have launched an emergency appeal to provide vital aid to Moroccans.

Richard Blewitt, executive director of international for the British Red Cross, said:

“This earthquake has left hundreds dead and many more injured. People have lost their homes, loved ones and livelihoods, and sadly the full scale of the destruction is only likely to become apparent in the coming days.

“She started screaming” - a British journalist recalls the shock of the quake

Saturday 9 September 2023 19:07 , Lydia Patrick

A journalist living in Morocco says his wife’s scream woke him up when their home shook from the tremors.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Martin Jay said he was in a deep sleep when his home started to shake.

He said:“We both had nodded off to sleep - but not into deep sleep - just into that light slumber I suppose ... and she started screaming, and I just sort of opened my eyes and couldn’t quite join the dots up.

“I couldn’t quite equate the situation, I couldn’t imagine I was in the middle of an earthquake.

“Everything was vibrating, everything, the bed, the floor, the four walls.”

The journalist owes his life to his wood bedroom which withstood the shakes - other parts of their home was damaged including parts of their brick walls.

The UK pledge their support to Morocco after deadly quake

Saturday 9 September 2023 18:55 , Lydia Patrick

The UK say they will suport Morocco in “whatever way we can” after the country reels from the most powerful quake they have ever seen.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly posted on Twitter: “The UK is continuing to support British nationals in the region. We stand ready to help our Moroccan friends in whatever way we can.”

Rishi Sunak echoed the support, adding: ““The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends.”

The current death toll stands at over 1000 but volunteers expect to see numbers rise as they struggle to reach remote areas struck by tremors.

Moroccan national football team donate blood to help earthquake victims

Saturday 9 September 2023 18:45 , Lydia Patrick

The Moroccan national football team and staff give blood after a country wide appeal for donations.

The players were set to play against Liberia today to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Agadir, Morocco but the game has been postponed due to the deadly quake.

A video shows the players doing their bit for the national cause and take the needles without so much as a whince.

The Marrakech Regional Blood Transfusion Center has launched an urgent appeal for blood donations to support the victims of the 7.2 magnitude earthquake, according to Morocco World News.

The ‘Atlas Lions’ stand in solidarity with their country which has lost over 1000 people to the powerful tremors and sees hospitals inundated with 1200 injured.

Pictured on the Equipe du Maroc Instagram are players Achraf Hakimi, Walid Cheddira, Amine Harit, Zakaria Aboukhlal, Kawad El Yamiq and Ibrahim Salah donating blood.

Large distances between mountain villages mean it will take time to learn the extent of damage

Saturday 9 September 2023 17:15 , Rachel Flynn

Abderrahim Ait Daoud, head of the town of Talat N’Yaaqoub, told Moroccan news site 2M that authorities were working to clear roads in Al Haouz Province to allow passage for ambulances and aid to populations affected.

He said large distances between mountain villages meant it would take time to learn the extent of the damage.

Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, expects the final death toll to climb into the thousands.

He said: “I would expect the final death toll to climb into the thousands once more is known. As with any big quake, aftershocks are likely, which will lead to further casualties and hinder search and rescue.”

“There’s nothing to do but pray” as 721 people in critical condition

Saturday 9 September 2023 16:44 , Rachel Flynn

At least 1,037 people have died, mostly in Marrakech and five provinces near the quake’s epicentre, and another 1,204 people were injured, Morocco’s Interior Ministry reported Saturday morning.

Of the injured, the ministry wrote, 721 were in critical condition.

“There’s nothing to do but pray,” Hamza Lamghani told the Associated Press, who lost five of his closest friends in the earthquake.

Magnitude 5.9 earthquake strikes Minahassa Peninsula in Indonesia's Sulawesi region

Saturday 9 September 2023 16:33 , Rachel Flynn

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck the Minahassa Peninsula on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Saturday, the German Research Centre for Geosciences reported.

The quake occurred 10 km (6.21 miles) below the earth’s surface, GFZ said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, Reuters report.

Indonesia’s geophysics agency said the shallow quake did not have the potential to cause a tsunami. A 7.5-magnitude quake that struck in the same area in 2018 triggered a tsunami that caused widespread damage and death.

Indonesia straddles the so-called “Pacific Ring of Fire”, an area of high seismic activity that rests atop multiple tectonic plates.

Morocco earthquake aftermath in photos

Saturday 9 September 2023 16:25 , Rachel Flynn

Saturday 9 September 2023 15:24 , Chris Stevenson

Here are some images of the aftermath of the earthquake:

Survivor stories

Saturday 9 September 2023 15:14 , Chris Stevenson

Montasir Itri, a resident of the village of Asni near the epicentre of the earthquake, said most houses there were damaged.

"Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village," he told Reuters.

Further west, near Taroudant, teacher Hamid Afkar said he had fled his home and felt aftershocks.

"The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor," he said.

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:47 , Chris Stevenson

The human toll of the earthquake is clear from these images:

Algeria offers help

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:37 , Chris Stevenson

Algeria, which broke off ties with Morocco two years ago, said on Saturday it would open its air space for humanitarian and medical flights to Morocco, after a major earthquake there that killed over 800 people.

Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021, citing what it said were “hostile acts”. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said earlier this year that relations between the North African neighbours had reached “a point of no return”.

In a statement on Morocco's quake, Algeria's presidency said it was ready to provide humanitarian aid and offer all its material and human capabilities in solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people, if Morocco requests such help.

Death toll rises again

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:08 , Chris Stevenson

The death toll in the earthquake near Marrakesh has reached 1,037, with more than 1,200 injured, the Moroccan armed forces have said.

Military mobilised

Saturday 9 September 2023 14:06 , Chris Stevenson

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has ordered the countries armed forces to mobilise air and land assets, specialised search and rescue teams and a surgical field hospital to help with the aftermath of the powerful earthquake.Associated Press reported the request, citing a statement from the military

Search for survivors

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:48 , Chris Stevenson

In the village of Amizmiz, about 40 miles south of Marrakech, Resident Mohamed Azaw told Reuters:

“When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. But my neighbours couldn’t. Unfortunately, no one was found alive in that family. The father and son were found dead and they are still looking for the mother and the daughter.”

How it spread: Morocco's devastating earthquake mapped

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:25 , Chris Stevenson

The Morocco earthquake that has killed over 800 was the strongest to hit the North African nation in over a century.

It struck just after 11pm on Friday and has impacted the entire region, with tremors felt thousands of miles away in Portugal and Algeria.

The quake’s epicentre, according to the US Geological Survey, is in the middle of the country and located at the High Atlas Mountains in the Ighil area, about 70km south of the historic city of Marrakech.

The epicentre was found to be 18km below the Earth, according to the USGS.

Morocco’s own National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Network, however, estimates the epicentre to be at 11km below the surface.

Experts say the quake’s shallower depth of origin made it more dangerous.

You can read more on how the earthquake spread across the country here.

UK ‘ready to support Morocco'

Saturday 9 September 2023 13:06 , Chris Stevenson

Britian’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the UK stands ready to support Morocco after it was hit by a deadly earthquake.

On social media, the Prime Minister said: "My thoughts are with everyone affected by the terrible earthquake in Morocco last night.

"The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends."

Number of smaller aftershocks followed Morocco earthquake that killed over 800, say geologists

Saturday 9 September 2023 12:50 , Vishwam Sankaran

The devastating earthquake of near-7 magnitude which struck Morocco yesterday resulted in a number of smaller aftershocks.

The quake, whose epicentre was about 18km below the Earth’s surface around the High Atlas mountains, resulted in a number of aftershocks recorded by seismographs in the region.

One prominent aftershock, of magnitude 4.9, hit the region about 20 minutes later, according to the US Geological survey.

Large earthquakes tend to trigger aftershocks, which are linked to the stress changes caused to the ground by the earlier quake.

Earthquake geologists Judith Hubbard and Kyle Bradley write in a blog post saying “a number of smaller events” occurred following the near-7 magnitude Morocco quake.

In some less common cases, they say an earthquake can trigger another event of the same size or larger, adding that it may not be possible to predict whether this will happen.

They cautioned that this is period of “elevated seismic risk” for the region, adding that people reoccupying buildings damaged by yesterday’s main quake may be at higher risk from aftershocks.

“Structures in areas of strong shaking should be inspected for structural damage. The risk of aftershocks will slowly diminish over time,” the geologists said.

London tourist in Morocco shares experience of quake

Saturday 9 September 2023 12:20 , Vishwam Sankaran

Alex Folkes, a tourist on holiday in the fishing village of Taghazout in Morocco’s Atlantic coast, said the earthquake “felt strong” in the region.

“This was my first earthquake and it felt strong here, but clearly not enough to cause damage,” Mr Folkes told The Independent.

“No change in the sea – epicentre inland, so no risk of tsunami,” he said.

The Londoner said while people in the coastal region, which is about 80km (50 miles) from the epicentre, were “very concerned” at the time, “no one looks concerned and life is normal” this morning.

“We were in Marrakech three days ago and recognise photos of areas hit. Koutoubia minaret is the most famous in the city and there’s clear concern about that. As you know, much of that city is small alleys and adobe buildings which won’t survive much shaking,” he explained.

“Biggest concern here is for Atlas villages. Many are very remote and all adobe built,” Mr Folkes said.

Residents share their experiences surviving the devastating earthquake

Saturday 9 September 2023 12:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

Many residents in Marrakech, the nearest city to the epicentre, say they spent the night outside their homes and in the open, fearing a second quake might strike the region.

“The chandelier fell from the ceiling and I ran out. I’m still in the road with my children and we’re scared,” a resident of the city, 43-year-old Houda Hafsi, said.

Many say the earth started shaking rapidly yesterday night around 11pm and ran out of their homes towards open spaces outside for safety.

A woman said she fled from her house after an “intense vibration.”

“I still can’t sleep in the house because of the shock and also because the old town is made up of old houses,” Jaouhari Mohamed, a resident of Marrakech, said.

“Everything is by God’s will, but we sustained great harm,” according to Miloud Skrout, another resident of the city.

British Airways offers to bring passengers from Morocco early

Saturday 9 September 2023 11:44 , Vishwam Sankaran

British Airways is offering flexibility to passengers booked to or from Marrakech in the next two weeks.

“The welfare of our customers is our priority, and we have contacted our British Airways Holidays customers in Morocco to check that they’re safe,” A BA spokesperson said, adding that the airline is monitoring the situation closely.

Customers due to travel to or from Marrakech in the next two weeks can change their dates “free of charge if they wish,” the spokesperson said.

BA said it has put a bigger plane on its Heathrow-Marrakech-Heathrow rotation today to allow more passengers to come home early, adding that the hotels used by the company’s Holidays operation remain unaffected.

'Is it safe to travel to Morocco now?'

Saturday 9 September 2023 11:26 , Vishwam Sankaran

With the death toll from the 7.2-magnitude earthquake climbing steeply and rescuers continuing to pull people out of rubble, much is still unknown about the safety of travellers planning to go to the quake-affected parts of the country.

A number of flights arrived from the UK to the worst-affect Marrakech city yesterday and their return legs were also departing normally before the quake struck.

It appears that many thousands of travellers are booked to travel to the old city imminently and may want to reconsider going on holiday to the disaster-struck region.

It also seems too early to establish the amount of damage and disruption caused, especially at tourist facilities, The Independent’s Travel Correspondent Simon Calder reports.

However, the foreign office stops short of warning against travel to Marrakech, asking travellers instead to follow safety instructions from local authorities.

Read more on flight schedules from the UK and airlines’ statements on travel to Morocco here.