On Friday 8 September, 11pm local time, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco. The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, approximately 70 kilometres south of Marrakesh. A 4.9 magnitude aftershock followed just 20 minutes later.

Local authorities are now reporting that over 2,400 people have died, with many more critically injured. The total number of people affected is in the hundreds of thousands.

Many of the worst affected areas are remote and mountainous, making them harder to reach, so these numbers are likely to rise rapidly in the coming days as the full impact of the disaster becomes clearer.

Local Moroccan Red Crescent teams were on the ground immediately responding to the earthquake. They are supporting authorities with:

• search and rescue
• provision of water, food, shelter and hygiene kits
• evacuation
• first aid
• transportation of injured people to hospital
• psychosocial support

As the situation develops, our teams will continue to help with the severe and immediate needs of those affected, as well as planning the longer-term support that will be needed in the weeks and months to come.

Please donate to our Morocco Earthquake appeal today if you can.

Please note: The Morocco Earthquake appeal will cover areas affected by the earthquake and those potentially affected in the future. In the unlikely event that we raise more money than can be reasonably and efficiently spent, any surplus funds will be used to help us prepare for and respond to other humanitarian disasters anywhere in the world. For more information visit https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/disaster-fund

For information on British Red Cross' refund policy, please see here: https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-involved/donate/donation-questions/making-a-donation#RefundPolicy

Photo credits @ Xinhua/Shutterstock