Maisie Smith reveals she flew home from Morocco just two days before devastating earthquake as she offers her condolences to victims

Maisie Smith has revealed she flew home from Morocco just two days before the devastating earthquake.

Morocco’s biggest earthquake in more than 120 years struck south of Marrakesh on Friday evening, killing at least 632 people and injuring more than 350.

The earthquake, which measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, struck Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and caused tremors as far away as Portugal, wiped out entire families. loved ones.

EastEnders actress Maisie, 22, sent her condolences to those affected by the tragedy when she shared an update on Instagram on Saturday.

She wrote: ‘I can’t believe it. We flew back from this beautiful country just two days ago.’

Horrible: The EastEnders actress offered her condolences to those affected by the tragedy as she shared an update on Instagram

She added: ‘My thoughts are with all the victims and the families of those who have lost their lives in this tragedy.’

Maisie gave her followers a sneak peek of her holiday in an Instagram post on Thursday.

The actress wore a plunging white summer dress with a colorful leaf print in the images as she paid tribute to the 2004 film 50 First Dates, referencing the film in her caption.

On Friday evening, horrific images shared on social media showed a huge cloud of dust rising in Marrakesh – a UNESCO World Heritage site and a hugely popular tourist city – as buildings collapsed and people fled for their lives.

In a statement this morning, a Moroccan government official said “emergency operations are underway throughout the country” and the death toll is expected to rise significantly in the coming hours and days.

No identities of the victims were released as initial figures rose from 300 to 632 overnight. The epicenter was 40 miles south of the tourist town, a popular British holiday destination.

The ministry wrote that most of the damage occurred outside cities and towns, and the United States Geological Survey warned that the death toll was likely to rise significantly because buildings in rural areas were not built to withstand such earthquakes.

Other images show rescue efforts in full swing, with locals helping to free those trapped with their bare hands.

Tragedy: Morocco’s biggest earthquake in more than 120 years struck south of Marrakesh on Friday evening, killing at least 632 people and injuring more than 350

Holiday: Maisie gave her followers a sneak peek of her holiday in an Instagram post on Thursday

But there are warnings that the strong earthquake means it will take some time to reach mountain villages and other smaller settlements outside Moroccan cities, meaning the true extent of damage and injuries remains unknown.

The Interior Ministry called for calm, saying in a televised statement on the death toll that the earthquake had hit the provinces of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant. Officials added that most of the dead will be in hard-to-reach settlements outside cities.

Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has advised tourists to follow local media and safety instructions from local authorities, adding that anyone in Britain concerned about a loved one abroad can call the office at 020 7008 5000.

Abderrahim Ait Daoud, head of Talat N’Yaafoub town, said authorities are working to clear roads in Al Haouz province to allow passage for ambulances and aid to the affected population, but said the large distances between mountain villages make worry that it will take time to learn the extent of the damage.

The Moroccan army and emergency services mobilized relief efforts to the damage-affected areas. Local media reported that roads into the mountain area around the epicenter were jammed with vehicles and blocked by collapsed rocks, delaying rescue efforts.

Al Haouz is known for the picturesque landscapes of the High Atlas and the Amazigh villages built into mountainsides.

Later Saturday morning in Marrakech, ambulances and motorcycles buzzed around the edge of the old city, where business largely resumed as usual on Saturday morning.

A historic mosque in Marrakech was badly damaged by the earthquake, which struck just after 11pm on Friday

Tourists and passersby bypassed the roadblocks and took photos of parts of the ocher clay wall that had cracked, sending fragments and dust onto the sidewalk and street.

A mosque minaret has also fallen in Jemaa al-Fna Square, the heart of Marrakech’s old city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Montasir Itri, a resident of the mountain village of Asni near the epicenter, said most houses there had been damaged. “Our neighbors are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using the resources available in the village,” he said.

Elsewhere, urgent supplies were seen being loaded onto trucks by the Civil Protection Department, ready to be distributed to those in need.