Morocco earthquake live news: At least 1,037 killed in quake near Marrakesh

At least 1,037 have been killed and 1,200 injured after a powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck Morocco, according to state media.
The quake hit just after 11pm local time (22:00 GMT).
Moroccan troops, emergency services in race against time to reach survivors
Moroccan troops and emergency services are scrambling to reach remote mountain villages where casualties are still feared trapped.

The 6.8-magnitude quake struck late Friday in a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh, the US Geological Survey reported.

In the mountain village of Moulay Brahim near the quake’s epicentre, rescue teams searched for survivors in the rubble of collapsed houses while residents began digging graves for the dead on a nearby hill.

The army set up a field hospital in the village and deployed “significant human and logistical resources” to support the rescue operation, state news agency MAP reported.

Graffiti artist from Idlib expresses solidarity with Morocco through mural
Aziz Asmar, 50, a graffiti artist from northern Syria, from the city of Idlib, says he is showing support and solidarity with Morocco by drawing a mural with the words “Peace to Morocco” on it.

“Today, we are drawing on the walls of our homes that were destroyed first by Bashar al-Assad’s air force, then by the 6th February earthquake,” said Asmar about his latest mural on Saturday.

The mural is of a Morocco map with the words “Our pain is one.”

“We drew this to send a message of solidarity with our people in Morocco who were saddened by the earthquake disaster today”, Asmar said.

He said that the February 6 earthquake that struck Turkey and northwest Syria and left thousands dead and injured spread the feeling of solidarity with the Moroccan people.

When first watching the news and videos of the Moroccan earthquake, Asmar said he immediately thought of Syria’s own quake.

“I remembered the crying, the loss of loved ones, and the death of our relatives under the rubble”, he said.

“My message is a message of solidarity in which we say to our brothers in Morocco that you are our people and the catastrophe brought us together. We are brothers by blood, land and language.”

US ready to provide assistance to Morocco: Blinken
The United States is ready to provide assistance to Morocco, following the deadly earthquake, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said in a statement.

“I express my deep sadness at the loss of life and destruction caused by yesterday’s earthquake in Morocco and extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected,” Blinken said.

“The United States is ready to provide any necessary assistance as Morocco responds to this tragedy.”Moroccan staff helping visitors in quake’s aftermath: Tourist
A 51-year-old police officer from Plymouth in the United Kingdom, who is on holiday in Morocco, has described an atmosphere of support in light of the deadly earthquake that struck on Friday.

Penny Loftus said she used her expertise to help out other guests in the hotel, adding that staff were quick to usher people away from falling debris. Many of the guests stood outside in case of tremors and some slept near the pool, she said.

“Within an hour, chairs, cushions, blankets and towels were handed out. An ambulance had arrived and taken a member of staff to hospital as they had suffered injuries,” she told Al Jazeera.

“Staff made sure all vulnerable guests were identified and attended to. The staff had been up all night but they still put on food for breakfast, which was amazing. We asked about their homes and families and they said all was ok, but everyone is in shock and wondering what will happen next,” she added.

Medical sector in Marrakesh holding up so far: Journalist
Journalist Younis Ezzouhir has told Al Jazeera from Marrakesh that so far, the Mohammed VI University Hospital centre is able to manage earthquake-related injuries coming in, with sufficient medical capabilities and personnel.

Hospitals are working around the clock and coordinating among each other, he said, adding that critical cases are being transferred to the Mohammed VI University Hospital centre.

“Volunteer doctors are coming in to help, as well as private sector doctors coming to public sector hospitals, and doctors of non-urgent care departments providing assistance with urgent cases,” he said.

Private sector ambulances are also helping shuttle survivors to hospitals and emergency rooms, he added.Continuing efforts to clear roads for search and rescue: Journalist
Journalist Younis Ezzouhir has told Al Jazeera from Marrakesh that efforts are continuing to clear roads to get to more survivors in affected areas in al-Haouz province, especially Talat N’Yaaqoub, a small town and rural commune there.

“This road faced landslides. It is a mountain road, but the nature of the road is that the ground is mud soil, so it is fragile, and with rainfall or earthquakes there can be major amount of dirt and stones falling from the mountains,” Ezzouhir said.

He said that the royal armed forces (the army) began search and rescue operations rescue as well as setting up a field hospital in the mountainous area.Death toll rises to 1,037: State TV
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco has risen to 1,037, state television quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.

More than 1,200 people were injured in the magnitude 6.8 quake in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night, it added.Death toll rises to 1,037: State TV
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco has risen to 1,037, state television quoted the Interior Ministry as saying.

More than 1,200 people were injured in the magnitude 6.8 quake in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains late on Friday night, it added.Pope expresses ‘profound solidarity’ with Morocco after earthquake: Vatican
Pope Francis has expressed solidarity with Moroccans affected by the earthquake.

“The pope expresses his profound solidarity with those who are touched in the flesh and heart by this tragedy,” read a telegram sent to Morocco by the Vatican’s Secretary of State Pietro Parolin.