TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Embassy in Morocco confirmed that there were no Indonesian citizens among the victims of the powerful 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Friday evening, September 8, 2023.

“There are approximately 500 Indonesian citizens living in Morocco or visiting Morocco. All of them are safe from the earthquake. They are all safe,” Indonesian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Hasrul Azwar, told Tempo on Monday, September 11, 2023.

Hasrul added that there were 78 citizens who visited Marrakech for the International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks 2023 on September 7-9, and M'Goun Géoparc on September 10-11.

Most Indonesian citizens in Morocco reside in Rabat, Casablanca, Khenifra, and Fez, while in Marrakech, there are about seven people.

Hasrul said that many institutions and humanitarian activists had contacted the Indonesian Embassy in Rabat to provide assistance, including the National Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) and the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI).

“But the Moroccan government has just given the bank account number for the aid today, so that assistance can be transferred to that account. The Moroccan government has not yet announced where the physical aid will be distributed,” he said.

As of Monday evening, the death toll was reported to rise to 2,862 people, and 2,562 people were injured.

Earthquake felt in Rabat

Hasrul, who lives in Rabat about 400 km from the quake’s epicenter, said he felt the shaking. “We all left the house. Even until dawn, some people didn't dare to sleep at home because they were afraid of aftershocks. Some slept in cars, others sat on public roads,” he said.

Hasrul recalled feeling the shock of the Aceh earthquake back in 2004 when he was in Medan. “I lived in Medan when the Aceh earthquake occurred. The shaking was felt in Medan even though it was far away. The distance from Aceh to Medan is about 450 km. The distance from Rabat to the epicenter of the earthquake is approximately 400 km.”

Hasrul also confirmed that none of the buildings in Rabat had collapsed or cracked.

NABIILA AZZAHRA

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