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RABAT, Sept. 10 (Xinhua/APP) –:A powerful quake struck Morocco Friday night, claiming the lives of more than 2,000 people, with the toll expected to rise as rescuers struggle to reach hard-hit remote areas.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed sorrow at the loss of life from the earthquake, according to his spokesperson on Saturday.
“The secretary-general expresses his solidarity with the government and people of Morocco in these difficult times,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson, in a statement.
“He addresses his most sincere condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to the injured,” he added.
The United Nations is ready to assist the government of Morocco in helping the impacted population, said the statement.
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit Morocco Friday at 11:11 p.m. local time (2211 GMT) at a depth of 18.5 kilometers. The death toll has risen to 2,012, local media reported.
The epicenter of Friday’s tremor was near the town of Ighil in Al Haouz Province, roughly 70 kilometers (44 miles) south of Marrakech.
Neighboring Algeria expressed readiness to assist Morocco, saying it will open its airspace to flights carrying humanitarian aid, a state-owned news agency reported Saturday, citing a presidency statement.
Tunisia announced on Saturday that a rescue team has left for Morocco to offer search and rescue efforts, the official TAP news agency reported.
The team comprises more than 50 professional rescue experts and will work with local Moroccan rescue agencies during its search operations.
A statement released by The Tunisian Presidency said that the country will use all its capabilities to support Morocco.
The statement confirmed that Tunisia will dispatch urgent aid and civil protection teams to help in search and rescue, as well as a delegation from the Tunisian Red Crescent to participate in the relief operations.
In a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart, the Qatari prime minister expressed his condolences and wished “a speedy recovery for the injured,” vowing to “provide all necessary assistance.”
Türkiye, which suffered massive earthquakes in February, said it was “ready to provide all kinds of support to heal the wounds,” its state-run Anadolu news agency reported Saturday, citing the Turkish Foreign Ministry.Morocco earthquake leaves more than 2,000 dead as int’l community offer condolences