No Vietnamese victims reported yet in Morocco quake that killed over 2,000: ambassador
Sunday, September 10, 2023, 12:41 GMT+7
The Vietnamese Embassy in Morocco has yet to get any report of Vietnamese casualties in the terrible earthquake that has killed over 2,000 people in the North African country, but the agency has been ready for citizen protection when necessary, Ambassador Dang Thi Thu Ha said on Saturday.
Four delegations of Vietnamese officials were working in Marakech City, 72 kilometers from the epicenter of the magnitude-7.2 quake, when it struck in the High Atlas Mountains late on Friday night, Ambassador Ha said on the embassy’s Facebook page.
These missions came from Cao Bang, Lang Son, Ha Giang Provinces in northern Vietnam and Dak Nong in the country’s Central Highlands.
There were also a number of citizens traveling and working in Morocco at the time when the devastating quake hit.
The embassy said it has received no report of Vietnamese citizens killed or injured in the disaster so far, except for the news that a number of Vietnamese people had to leave their hotels due to cracked walls.
An embassy delegation led by Ambassador Ha arrived in Marrakech on Saturday morning to support the local Vietnamese community and get plans ready for citizen protection.
The embassy said it was maintaining close contact with Moroccan authorities to be updated on the situation and take action when necessary.
Vietnamese citizens and overseas Vietnamese who need assistance should contact the embassy via phone numbers 212 7 61 86 87 29 and 212 6 18 53 65 52, or via email at amassadevn.maroc@gmail.com.
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| Abdellatif Ait Bella, who was injured in the earthquake that destroyed his home, lies on the ground as he and his wife Saida Bodchich prepare to spend a second night in the open air, in the village of Tansghart in the Asni area, Morocco, September 9, 2023. Photo: Reuters |
The Friday earthquake, the deadliest in the North African country in more than 60 years, has killed at least 2,012 people and injured 2,059 others, including 1,404 in critical condition, according to Morocco’s Interior Ministry.
Ambassador Ha on Saturday extended her deep condolences on the embassy’s Facebook page to the Moroccan people as well as the families of the quake’s victims.
She also expessed her wishes for the injured to recover soon.
Vietnam’s State President Vo Van Thuong and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on the same day sent their separate messages of condolences to Moroccan King Mohammed VI and Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch over the disaster.
Vietnam’s Chairman of lawmaking National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue also sent his condolences to Moroccan Senate President Naam Miyara and House of Representatives Speaker Rachid Talbi Alami.
Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son did the same to Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita.
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