On Friday 8 September (11pm local time) a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco. The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 70km south of Marrakesh. A 4.9 magnitude aftershock followed just 20 minutes later.
The total number of people affected is now in the hundreds of thousands. Many of the worst affected areas are remote and mountainous, and the impact of the earthquake has made them even harder to reach.
Local Moroccan Red Crescent teams are on the ground to support authorities with the search and rescue operations, in addition to the provision of water, food, shelter and hygiene kits, evacuation, first aid, transporting injured people to hospital, and providing psychosocial support.
As the situation develops, the British Red Cross said that its teams will continue to help with the severe and immediate needs of those affected, as well as planning the longer-term support that will be needed in the weeks and months to come. (Source: British Red Cross)
