Morocco declares 3 days national mourning as death toll hits 2,000

Morocco has declared a three day national mourning after the destructive 6.8 magnitude quake struck the country on Friday. Death toll has jumped to more than 2000 with a similar figure reportedly injured…

The death toll from a devastating earthquake in Morocco has climbed to more than 2,000, with a towering number of people also injured.

The interior ministry says more than 1,400 have serious injuries, and most casualties are in provinces just south of Marrakesh.

King Mohammed VI has since declared three days of national mourning and called for shelter, food and other help for survivors.

Flags will be flown at half-mast on all public buildings in the country for the next three days, according to a statement from the royal palace.

It was Morocco’s deadliest earthquake since a 6.7-magnitude quake struck Agadir in 1960, killing over 12,000 people.

The earthquake on Friday was also the biggest violent to strike Morocco in almost a century.

The magnitude 6.8 quake hit Marrakesh and many towns on Friday night.

Entire villages in mountain areas are reported to have been flattened.

While reacting to the tremor, the United Nations said it was ready to help the Moroccan government in “its efforts to assist the impacted population”, U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The AU, EU US, Nigeria, Somalia and several other countries have offered their condolences to the people of Morocco while Spain, France and Israel have pledged to help the country in this trying time.