His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco today announced a three-day national mourning, during which flags will be hoisted at half-mast.

HM King Mohammed VI announced the mourning period as he chaired a a working meeting in the aftermath of the earthquake that struck the “Al Haouz Province” on Friday, causing massive human and material losses in many areas.

The Moroccan monarch also gave directives to deploy the necessary search and rescue teams and to speed up the evacuation of the wounded in the aftermath of the devastating quake.

He also directed the formation of a ministerial committee to draw up an urgent programme for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas, in addition to providing these areas with drinking water and distributing food rations, tents and blankets to the afflicted.

Source: Bahrain News Agency (BNA)