UPDATE – Algeria offers condolences to Morocco, opens airspace following deadly quake

UPDATES WITH AIRSPACE OPENING, REVISES HEADLINE

By Ikram Kouachi

ANKARA (AA) – Algeria on Saturday offered condolences to neighboring Morocco following a powerful earthquake that killed hundreds of people.

At least 1,037 people were killed and 721 others injured when a magnitude 7.0 earthquake jolted Morocco late Friday, according to the country’s Interior Ministry.

“Algeria extends its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims of the brotherly Moroccan people, with sincere wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured,” the Algerian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

“Algeria is following with deep sorrow and sadness the repercussions of the violent earthquake that struck several regions in the Kingdom of Morocco,” it added.

Algeria also decided to open its airspace for humanitarian and medical flights to and from Morocco following the quake.

“Algeria is fully ready to provide humanitarian aid and mobilize all material and human resources in solidarity with the brotherly Moroccan people if requested by the Kingdom of Morocco,” the Algerian Presidency said in a statement.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the epicenter of the earthquake, which hit just after 11 p.m. local time (22:00 GMT), was 75 kilometers (46.6 miles) southeast of Marrakech, at a depth of 18.5 km.

The earthquake was the strongest tremor to hit Morocco in the last century, the country’s National Geophysical Institute said.

Tremors were also felt in neighboring Algeria and Mauritania.

In 2004, more than 600 people were killed and many others injured when a magnitude 6.3 quake hit northeastern Morocco.

Algeria and Morocco are regional rivals whose ties are strained over the disputed Western Sahara region.

In August 2021, Algeria severed diplomatic relations with Morocco, accusing Rabat of having "hostile tendencies," an accusation vehemently denied by Rabat.