This Sunday, Pope Francis expressed his closeness to “the dear people of Morocco, hit by a devastating earthquake,” and asked “that concrete help from everyone can sustain the population in this tragic moment.”
In a message at the end of the Sunday Angelus prayer, in St. Peter’s Square, Vatican City, the leader of the Catholic Church stated that he prays “for the wounded and for those who lost their lives, many […]and their families” and thanked “the first responders and those who work to alleviate people’s suffering.”
“We are close to the people of Morocco,” he added.
On Saturday, Pope Francis sent a telegram to the local church in which he assured “his prayers in the face of this natural catastrophe,” expressed himself “saddened by this event,” and expressed “deep solidarity with those who are touched in flesh and blood.” heart for this tragedy.”
The latest provisional toll of the earthquake that shook Morocco on Friday night points to 2,012 dead and 2,059 injured, of which 1,404 are in serious condition, the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior announced at the end of the day on Saturday.
In total, 1,293 people died in Al Haouz province and 452 in Taroudant province, both south of Marrakech, the ministry said in a statement.
The earthquake, whose epicenter was recorded in the town of Ighil, 63 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech, was felt in Portugal and Spain and reached a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale, according to the National Institute of Geophysics of Marrakesh. .
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the magnitude of the earthquake at 6.8.
The kingdom of Morocco declared three days of national mourning.
Source: TSF
