Death toll from Morocco earthquake exceeds 1,000, Vietnam prepares citizen protection plan

There were four delegations of Vietnamese officials near the epicenter of the earthquake in Morocco, in addition to a number of Vietnamese people traveling and working in this country, but fortunately no citizens were injured or killed.

Moroccan rescuers search for people under the rubble in the town of Amizmiz on September 9 - Photo: REUTERS

On the afternoon of September 9, sharing on Facebook, Vietnamese Ambassador to Morocco Dang Thi Thu Ha said that immediately after the 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred in Morocco, the embassy quickly contacted Vietnamese citizens and the Vietnamese community in this country to get information.

The Vietnamese representative agency also maintains close contact with Moroccan authorities to update the situation and prepare plans to support citizens.

According to the Vietnamese ambassador, there are currently four delegations of officials from Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang and Dak Nong provinces working in Marakech city, which is near the epicenter of the earthquake . There are also a number of Vietnamese citizens traveling and working in this country.

So far, the embassy has not recorded any Vietnamese citizens injured or killed by the earthquake. However, some people had to leave the hotel due to cracks in the walls.

Ambassador Dang Thi Thu Ha and the embassy's delegation also went to Marrakech city to support people and carry out citizen protection work.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurred at nearly midnight on September 8 (local time) with the epicenter located 72km from the city of Marrakech.

Moroccan national television updated from the Interior Minister as of the evening of September 9 that 1,037 people were killed by the earthquake and 1,200 were injured.

It was the deadliest earthquake in Morocco since 1960, according to the US Geological Survey. The 1960 quake is estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people.

Vietnamese leaders express condolences to Morocco. On September 9, President Vo Van Thuong sent a message of condolences to King Mohamed VI of Morocco after hearing of the earthquake in Morocco that killed and injured many people. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh sent a message of condolences to Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouc. National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue sent a message of condolences to Senate President Naam Miyara and House of Representatives President Rachid Talbi Alami. On the same day, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son sent a message of condolences to Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan expatriates Nasser Bourita.

Vietnamese citizens in need of assistance can contact the Vietnamese Embassy in Morocco at +212 7 61 86 87 29 and +212 6 18 53 65 52 or the Citizen Protection Hotline of the Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs at +84 981 84 84 84.

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