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According to CNN, as of September 10, more than 2,000 people were killed and more than 1,400 injured in the earthquake that occurred on the evening of September 8 in Marrakech, Morocco.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said more than 300,000 people were affected by strong aftershocks in Marrakech and surrounding areas. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers reach collapsed homes in a remote area of the High Atlas Mountains, the Moroccan Interior Ministry said. Morocco has declared three days of national mourning for the victims of the worst tragedy since 2004.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake was caused by the movement of the African and Eurasian tectonic plates. These two tectonic plates are converging at a rate of about 4.9mm per year. Earthquakes are uncommon in North Africa, so Morocco was not really prepared for such a disaster. Most of the country's structures, especially the countryside and ancient cities, were not built to withstand strong earthquakes.
Jonathan Stewart, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at the University of California, Los Angeles, predicts that there will be several more strong aftershocks. Stewart said there is another possibility, although very unlikely, that the September 8 earthquake could be a precursor to an even stronger one. The Marrakech city government has also warned residents to be on the lookout for further earthquakes due to the risk of more aftershocks.
The regional blood transfusion center in Marrakesh has appealed to the public to donate blood to save the injured. The international community has joined forces to support Morocco. France has activated its emergency aid system while Israeli emergency services are preparing to mobilize in Morocco. The United Arab Emirates has announced the establishment of an “air bridge” to deliver supplies. Algeria has reopened its airspace to humanitarian and medical flights. Turkey is also sending personnel and tents.
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