Morocco struggles after rare, powerful earthquake kills and injures scores of people

Over 2,000 killed, 2,059 injured in Morocco quake; world leaders offer help. Nations offer aid, MSF ready to respond to Morocco quake.

Morocco has revised upward the death toll from a powerful earthquake that shook Marrakesh and surrounding regions.

The Interior Ministry said late Saturday that 2,012 people were killed when the temblor struck late Friday. The toll is expected to rise as rescuers struggled to reach hard-hit remote areas.

The ministry said the highest number of deaths were recorded in Al Haouz province, with 1,293 killed; and Taroudant, with 452.

At least 2,059 people were injured, including 1,404 critically. The government also announced three days of national mourning. The magnitude 6.8 quake on Friday was the biggest to hit the North African country in 120 years.

Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant held a phone call with his Moroccan counterpart to express Israel's desire to assist the earthquake-stricken country “as much as is required.” Mr. Gallant ordered the Israeli military to prepare to provide Morocco with humanitarian aid.

Israel and Morocco normalised relations in 2020 and have recently moved to deepen their diplomatic and security ties. Moroccan Senate president Enaam Mayara was scheduled to be the first Moroccan official and one of the few Muslim leaders ever to set foot in Israel's Knesset, or parliament, earlier in the week but called off the visit to Israel at the last minute due to a medical emergency.

“A significant part of the Abraham Accords is our commitment to stand by our partners during difficult times,” Mr. Gallant said a in statement Saturday, referring to the U.S.-brokered accords that formalised ties between Israel and some Arab nations.