Death toll from Morocco earthquake rises to over two thousand

(Patria) - The death toll from the strong earthquake in Morocco has risen to more than 2,000, with nearly the same number of injured, BBC reported.

The Ministry of Interior says more than 1,400 have serious injuries, and the heaviest casualties are in the provinces south of Marrakech.

King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning and ordered the construction of shelters, the delivery of food and other aid to survivors. Many people are spending their second night outdoors.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Marrakech and many cities on Friday evening. In remote mountainous areas, entire villages have reportedly been razed to the ground.

The epicenter of the earthquake was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 km southwest of Marrakech - a World Heritage city popular with tourists.

But the tremors were also felt in the capital Rabat, about 350 kilometers away, as well as Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira.

The Ministry of Interior says Al Haouz province has the highest death toll, followed by Taroudant province. There are far fewer deaths in Marrakech, although the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has suffered significant damage.

Many simple houses made of brick, stone, and wood in mountain villages are believed to have collapsed, but it will take time to assess the scale of the destruction in remote areas.

It was the deadliest earthquake in Morocco since Agadir was destroyed by a 6.7 magnitude earthquake in 1960, which killed more than 12,000 people. Friday's earthquake was also the strongest in more than a century.

The United Nations has announced it is ready to assist the Moroccan government in its rescue efforts, and similar promises have come from several countries, including Spain, France, and Israel.

Neighboring Algeria has had hostile relations with Morocco in recent years, but is now opening its airspace for humanitarian flights to Morocco.