In response to the devastating earthquake in Morocco, Greek Airline Aegean will operate an emergency special flight for passenger repatriation.
The airline has swiftly organized an emergency flight from Marrakesh to Athens to facilitate the return of passengers affected by the earthquake. The A320 aircraft conducting this special flight will depart from Athens to Marrakesh without passengers at 23:00 local time on Saturday. Subsequently, it will take off from Marrakesh Menara International Airport at 02:10 am (local time) on Sunday, September 10, 2023, en route to Athens International Airport.
Aegean passengers with Marrakesh-Greece tickets for the upcoming days, in need of immediate repatriation, can contact the company’s call center to change their tickets without extra fees.
Pray for Morocco 🇲🇦 #Moroccoearthquake pic.twitter.com/mbeHaoS82z
— Morocco’s beauty (@Moroccobeauty7) September 9, 2023
Greek Participants of the UNESCO Conference
Twenty Greeks attending a UNESCO geoparks conference in Marrakesh experienced the devastating earthquake in Morocco.
They are reported to be in good health. Delegates felt the earthquake intensely while participating in an official dinner outside Marrakesh. The event gathered 1,500 delegates from 50 countries, and it occurred on the conference’s last day.
Algeria Allows Flights to Morocco Despite Difficult Relations
Despite tense diplomatic relations, Algeria opened its airspace to aid flights from Morocco after the devastating earthquake.
The border between the two countries has been closed since 1994, and Algeria suspended diplomatic relations with Morocco in 2021. Despite these tensions, Algeria’s president announced that he would allow humanitarian and medical flights to pass through his airspace to help Morocco after the earthquake.
Many Algerians expressed solidarity with their Moroccan neighbors, highlighting deep historical and cultural ties that transcend political differences. The earthquake prompted international condolences and offers of assistance.
Devastating Earthquake in Morocco
A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has struck central Morocco, leaving devastation in its wake. As of Saturday night, more than 1,000 dead and 1,200 injured were reported. The earthquake’s epicenter was in the remote High Atlas Mountains, about 44 miles southwest of Marrakesh.
Most of the casualties occurred in Marrakech and surrounding areas, where residential and religious buildings collapsed under the force of the earthquake. The impact spread beyond the epicenter and affected cities such as Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira. Videos posted online showed panic and chaos outside Marrakech’s famous Koutoubia Mosque, with reports of damage to this historic structure.
Rescue and relief efforts were hampered by blocked roads, clogged with vehicles and fallen rocks. Moroccan authorities are working hard to clear these routes for ambulances and humanitarian aid.
The earthquake’s impact reached even remote regions, with tremors reportedly felt in Portugal and Algeria, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of this catastrophic event.