No reported casualties among Filipinos in quake-hit Morocco, envoy says

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 11) — The Philippine Embassy in Morocco said no Filipinos were seriously affected by the magnitude 6.8 quake that struck the North African country on Friday.

“Fortunately, there are no Filipino casualties. When the earthquake struck, Filipinos all over Morocco, I believe, went out of their houses and apartments to the streets to seek safety,” Philippine Ambassador to Morocco Leslie Baja told CNN Philippines’ New Day on Monday.

Baja said there are around 4,600 Filipinos in Morocco.

More than 2,000 people died after the powerful earthquake struck on Friday night. It was the strongest in more than a century, with an epicenter not far from popular tourist and economic hub Marrakech.

Baja said the Philippine embassy immediately contacted area coordinators to check on the situation of Filipinos across Morocco after the quake.

“The embassy will stand by here together with the migrant workers office in Rabat. We’ll certainly coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs regarding any assistance that will be extended to the Filipinos,” he said.

For those in need of assistance, Baja said they can contact the embassy through its hotline and social media accounts.