A Waitaki contingent in Morocco at the time of Friday’s devastating earthquake has been reported safe and well.

A group of four representing the Whitestone Waitaki Geopark were in Marrakesh to take part in the 10th International Conference on Unesco Geoparks 2023. 

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake was the country’s deadliest in 60 years, and struck below a remote cluster of mountainous villages south of Marrakesh.

A government report stated at least 2,122 people had been killed and more than 2,421 injured, many critically, with the race on to find anyone still trapped in the rubble, a report from the BBC said.

The quake collapsed homes, blocked roads and swayed buildings as far away as the country's northern coast, and Marrakesh's old city, a Unesco World Heritage site, also suffered damage.

Geopark Trust member Mel Jones, who did not travel to the conference, said her thoughts are with all the people affected by this disaster.

Geopark manager Lisa Heinz and trust chair Helen Jansen were accompanied by rūnaka representatives Mauriri McGlinchey and TK Buchanan on the trip, along with TK's wife and Helen's husband.

"The trustees were there to recognise Waitaki’s achievement of becoming New Zealand's first Unesco Global Geopark at the 10th International Conference on Unesco Global Geoparks," Mel said.

"Waitaki was one of 18 new additions to the Unesco Global Geoparks network.

"I understand conference members have been supporting the local community and relief efforts by donating blood and money."

Lisa is now safely in Germany visiting her family. TK and his wife also left on Saturday (September 9). Mauriri leaves on Wednesday (September 13) and Helen and her partner leave on Saturday (September 16), she said.

A statement from the Waitaki District Council said it was pleased to hear that all its representatives and Whitestone Geopark trustees are safe and well, following the earthquake. 

“We wish them a safe journey back to New Zealand and extend our sympathies to the people of Morocco at this difficult time.”

Morocco's King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning on Saturday, as the aftermath continued to unfold.

Civil protection units were deployed to increase stocks in blood banks, water, food, tents and blankets, the palace said. But it conceded that some of the worst-affected areas were so remote that it was impossible to reach them in the hours after the quake - the most crucial period for many of the injured.

Fallen rocks had partially blocked the already poorly maintained roads into the High Atlas mountains, the site of many of the worst-affected areas.

Many buildings have been reduced to rubble in the small town of Amizmiz, in a valley in the mountains about 55 kilometres south of Marrakesh, the BBC report said.