Morocco earthquake – live: UK deploys search and rescue teams as hunt for survivors continues

The UK government has sent 60 search and rescue specialists and four search dogs to Morocco as rescuers are digging through the rubble to try and find survivors following the huge earthquake.

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.”

It comes as more than 2,000 people have been killed. Of the 2,059 injured, more than 1,400 are said to be seriously hurt, the Morocco’s Interior Ministry said.

The damage from the quake could take several years to repair, according to the Red Cross. “We are looking at many months if not several years of response,” said Hossam Elsharkawi, the Red Cross Middle East and North Africa director.

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.

Key Points

• UK sends 60 search and rescue specialists to Morocco

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

• France is ready to help Morocco, says Macron

• 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

Rescuers race to find survivors

10:19 , Chris Stevenson

Rescuers continue to dig to find survivors in the rubble more than 48 hours after Morocco's deadliest earthquake in more than six decades.

Search teams from Spain and Britain are joining efforts to find survivors of the 6.8 magnitude quake that struck late on Friday night 40 miles (70km) southwest of Marrakech.

Search-and-rescue specialists with sniffer dogs have been sent by Britain and Spain. For its part, Qatar said on Sunday its search-and-rescue team departed for Morocco.

Morocco travel advice: Is it safe to travel to Marrakech right now?

07:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The death toll is rising following a catastrophic earthquake in Morocco late at night on Friday 8 September. More than 2,000 people have been killed and injured after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck.

The epicentre was about 70km (43 miles) southwest of Marrakech – the fourth-biggest city in Morocco, and by far the most popular draw for international visitors.

Thousands of British holidaymakers are in the area, with many thousands more booked to go there during September. This is the travel picture.

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

ICYMI: Morocco mourns its earthquake victims as the search for survivors goes on

07:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Survivors of Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in decades are struggling to find food and shelter as the search goes on for those missing and the death toll rises.

The number of dead is now more than 2,122, with another 2,421 injured. Those totals are likely to increase as rescue workers and residents dig through the rubble. Many people on Sunday were preparing to spend a third night in the open after the near-7 magnitude earthquake hit late on Friday. The quake’s epicentre was around 70km (40 miles) southwest of Marrakech.

Relief workers face the challenge of reaching areas in the High Atlas, a rugged mountain range where settlements are often remote and where many houses crumbled. In the badly-hit village of Amizmiz, residents watched as rescuers used a mechanical digger on a collapsed house. “They are looking for a man and his son. One of them might still be alive,” said Hassan Halouch, a retired builder. The team eventually recovered only bodies.

Morocco mourns its earthquake victims as the search for survivors goes on

Concern over aid reaching remote villages

06:52 , Maroosha Muzaffar

As the country mourns the loss of life after the devastating earthquake that killed more than 2000, there is now concern among experts over humanitarian aid reaching the more remote parts of the country.

Samia Errazzouki, an expert in the history and governance of the Moroccan state at Stanford University in California, told the Guardian: “Roads and access to this region [a village near the foot of the Atlas mountains] are already difficult, before you compound that with difficulties like rubble or problems with the roads. It’s going to take a miracle to get immediate aid there.”

“These regions have historically been hit with earthquakes, but they have also been marginalised,” Ms Errazzouki said.

“Obviously we can’t prevent earthquakes, and loss of life is unfortunately inevitable with something of this magnitude. But what can be controlled is how we respond to it and how we deal with it. It takes a crisis, a disaster like this to shed light on the day-to-day realities of people who live in the margins.”

Need for psychological support for survivors

06:45 , Maroosha Muzaffar

There is a need for psychological support for the survivors of the devastating earthquake, a psychiatrist told Moroccon state broadcaster 2M.

Omar Battas, a psychiatrist and professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Casablanca told the news host that there is a strong need to strengthen psychological support for survivors of the Moroccon tragedy.

More than 2,000 people have been killed in the earthquake and of the 2,059 injured, more than 1,400 are said to be seriously hurt, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry.

“We are looking at many months if not several years of response,” Hossam Elsharkawi, the Red Cross Middle East and North Africa director said.

Warning aftershocks will keep hitting Morocco

06:27 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Aftershocks will continue to rock Morocco even weeks or months after the earthquake that killed more than 2,000, a seismological expert has warned.

Remy Mossu, the director of the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, told Sky News that more than 25 aftershocks have already hit the country since the 6.8 magnitude earthquake.

“There will be aftershocks. It is not probably, it is a certainty,” he said.

“They will keep going for days and weeks, but we don’t know how many or how big they will be. In a few months, we may still have aftershocks from time to time, this won’t be surprising.”

He warned that it is “extremely difficult” for civilians to re-enter buildings given the uncertainty.

Mapped: Morocco earthquake that killed over 2,000 and levelled buildings in Marrakech

06:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The Morocco earthquake that has killed more than 2,000 people was the strongest to hit the north African nation in several decades.

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

The quake’s epicentre is in the middle of the country and located at the High Atlas Mountains in the Ighil area, about 40 miles (70km) south of Marrakech.

Morocco earthquake that killed over 2,000 is north Africa’s most powerful in decades

Watch: Moment deadly earthquake strikes busy Marrakech street captured on CCTV

05:58 , Maroosha Muzaffar

CCTV has captured the moment a deadly earthquake struck a busy Marrakech street late on Friday 8 September.

The footage shows the ground shaking before people run for cover as buildings and debris crumble from the force of the tremors.

The 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, around 40 miles south of the ancient city of Marrakech, and has killed at least 2,100 people so far.

Another 2,500 people are injured with most of the casualties reported to be in hard-to-reach areas.

UK justice secretary Alex Chalk has said Britain stands “ready to provide whatever assistance is required”.

Watch: Moment deadly earthquake strikes busy Marrakech street captured on CCTV

Struggle for space as gravediggers prepare to bury the dead

05:51 , Maroosha Muzaffar

In the village of Amizmiz in a valley in the mountains about 34 miles (55km) south of Marrakech, locals are reportedly preparing more graves as the rescue operation continues to look for bodies.

BBC News reported that there were rough graves only covered with sticks and stones to mark the 100 residents killed.

People there complained that they were not receiving enough official support and were left to find and bury the dead themselves.

In Pictures: Heartbreak and loss as Morocco grieves earthquake victims

05:33 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Survivors recall harrowing details of the devastating tremor: ‘I was so lucky to survive’

05:18 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Survivors from the Moulay Brahim village in the south of Marrakech are in awe of their luck. One survivor, Mina Bakenziz told CNN: “The people came and pulled me out. Nothing fell on me, I was so lucky.”

Another survivor, identified by their first name Hatimi, slept out in the open with her family: “Everybody was outside. All of the neighbours, everyone. We don’t want to go inside, everyone is scared, the shaking was so strong.”

Fifty-year-old Fatima, who lost four members of her family, “barely got the chance to grab the kids and run out before I saw my house collapsing in front of my eyes”.

She recalled seeing the “neighbour’s house” collapse and “there are two dead people under the rubble”.

Morocco’s king thanks the UK, Spain, Qatar and UAE for aid offers

04:42 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has thanked Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates for their aid offers after the devastating earthquake.

“The Moroccan authorities conducted a careful assessment of the needs in the field, taking into account that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive,” the king added, according to an interior ministry statement posted by state broadcaster 2M.

“On this basis, the Moroccan authorities responded, at this particular stage, to the offers of support made by friendly countries Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, which suggested mobilising a group of search and rescue teams.

“Moreover, with the progress of interventions, the assessment of potential needs may develop, which may lead to going back to offers of support from other friendly countries, according to the needs of each stage separately.”

Morocco earthquake: A look at the world’s deadliest earthquakes over the past 25 years

04:19 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The earthquake that struck Morocco has killed more than 2,100 people, with the death toll expected to increase as rescuers reach hard-hit remote mountain areas. Here’s a look at the deadliest earthquakes over the past 25 years:

— 8 September 2023: In Morocco, a magnitude 6.8 temblor kills more than 2,100 people.

— 6 February 2023: In Turkey and Syria, a magnitude 7.8 earthquake kills more than 21,600 people.

— 25 April 2015: In Nepal, more than 8,800 people were killed by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake.

— 11 March 2011: A magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggers a tsunami, killing more than 18,400 people.

— 12 January 2010: In Haiti, over 100,000 people are killed by a magnitude 7.0 quake. The government estimated a staggering 316,000 dead, but the scale of the destruction made an accurate count impossible.

— 12 May 2008: A magnitude 7.9 quake strikes eastern Sichuan in China, resulting in over 87,500 deaths.

— 27 May 2006: More than 5,700 people die when a magnitude 6.3 quake hits Indonesia’s Java island.

— 8 October 2005: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake kills over 80,000 people in Pakistan’s Kashmir region.

— 26 December 2004: A magnitude 9.1 quake in Indonesia triggered an Indian Ocean tsunami, killing about 230,000 people in a dozen countries.

— 26 December 2003: A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits southeastern Iran, causing more than 20,000 deaths.

— 26 January 2001: A magnitude 7.6 quake strikes Gujarat in India, killing as many as 20,000 people.

— 17 August 1999: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake hits Izmit, Turkey, killing about 18,000 people.

- Associated Press

Pope Francis praises earthquake rescuers

04:15 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the Morocco earthquake and their families on Sunday, as well as praising rescuers.

“I pray for the injured, for those who have lost their lives, so many of them, and for their relatives,” Pope Francis said at St Peter’s Square.

Residents spent the second night sleeping on the streets in Marrakech after the earthquake killed more than 2,000 people on Saturday.

Several historic sites have also been damaged in the earthquake.

‘Small’ number of Americans injured in Morocco earthquake, US state department says

04:11 , Maroosha Muzaffar

The US State Department said that a “small” number of Americans were injured in the devastating Morocco earthquake that took the lives of more than 2,000 people.

Officials said that they still do not know of any Americans’ deaths.

The department said in a statement that it is also communicating with local authorities and is ready to provide “appropriate consular assistance” to citizens.

Morocco mourns its earthquake victims as the search for survivors goes on

03:00 , Joe Middleton

Survivors of Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in decades are struggling to find food and shelter as the search goes on for those missing and the death toll rises.

The number of dead is now more than 2,122, with another 2,421 injured. Those totals are likely to increase as rescue workers and residents dig through the rubble. Many people on Sunday were preparing to spend a third night in the open after the near-7 magnitude earthquake hit late on Friday. The quake’s epicentre was around 70km (40 miles) southwest of Marrakech.

Relief workers face the challenge of reaching areas in the High Atlas, a rugged mountain range where settlements are often remote and where many houses crumbled. In the badly-hit village of Amizmiz, residents watched as rescuers used a mechanical digger on a collapsed house. “They are looking for a man and his son. One of them might still be alive,” said Hassan Halouch, a retired builder. The team eventually recovered only bodies.

Morocco mourns its earthquake victims as the search for survivors goes on

Morocco earthquake: Holidaymaker talks about moment disaster struck the country

02:00 , Joe Middleton

Morocco travel advice: Is it safe to travel to Marrakech right now?

01:00 , Joe Middleton

The death toll is rising following a catastrophic earthquake in Morocco late at night on Friday 8 September. More than 2,000 people have been killed and injured after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck.

The epicentre was about 70km (43 miles) southwest of Marrakech – the fourth-biggest city in Morocco, and by far the most popular draw for international visitors.

Thousands of British holidaymakers are in the area, with many thousands more booked to go there during September. This is the travel picture.

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

Morocco football players donate blood after deadly earthquake kills over 2,000

Sunday 10 September 2023 23:59 , Joe Middleton

British tourists had to sleep on streets after Morocco earthquake, husband says

Sunday 10 September 2023 22:56 , Joe Middleton

Two British tourists slept on the streets of a village in the Atlas mountains – unable to contact their families following a devastating earthquake in Morocco, one of their husbands has said.

Rebecca Calvert, 63, and friend Hilary Mckegney, 64, had just arrived in the remote village of Imlil in the Atlas Mountains to go on a hiking trip when the earthquake struck.

The magnitude 6.8 tremor late on Friday damaged buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains to the historic city of Marrakesh.

British tourists had to sleep on streets after Morocco earthquake, husband says

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 20:21 , Joe Middleton

UK sends 60 search and rescue specialists to Morocco

Sunday 10 September 2023 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.”

Charity ActionAid UK launches emergency appeal

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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.

Sunday 10 September 2023 15:12 , Chris Stevenson

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

The need for aid

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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?

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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’

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 10:00 , Vishwam Sankaran

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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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'

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 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

Sunday 10 September 2023 02:30 , Joe Middleton