Vita gazette – The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in Morocco the day before and was interpreted as the largest earthquake in the last 120 years in the country’s history dragged the country into disaster. The number of people who died in the earthquake increased to 2 thousand 122, and the number of injured rose to 2 thousand 421. Moroccan Justice Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi announced that some villages around the epicentre of the devastating earthquake were destroyed.

Authorities announced that at least 2 thousand people lost their lives in five regions of the region, mainly in Marrakesh. In the statement, it was reported that the number of injured increased to 2,421.

While the World Health Organization announced that more than 300,000 people were affected by the earthquakes that shook the country, national mourning was declared in Morocco. It was stated that the mourning will last for three days.

It has been reported that some of the destroyed buildings in Marrakech are on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Moroccan Armed Forces, local governments, security forces and civil defence teams continue their search and rescue efforts and are mobilising all means to deliver humanitarian aid to the earthquake areas. According to the Moroccan media, the earthquake occurred at 23.10 local time and was felt in the capital, Rabat and Casablanca, Meknes, Agadir and Fez.

Moroccan Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi noted that many old neighbourhoods, some of which are historical, were seriously damaged in the city of Tarudant in the southwest of the country and that the authorities were working to accommodate residents who could not return to their homes in the areas affected by the earthquake.