Moroccan Canadians are shocked and concerned following the deaths of thousands in an earthquake

 Montreal's Café Amistad has become a gathering place for people seeking answers or support after a deadly earthquake in Morocco killed over 2,000 people. As news of the quake trickled in on Friday, Chorfi Zouhir kept his shop open late into the night, as customers stayed glued to news channels and tried to call home. There are roughly 100,000 Canadians of Moroccan descent, most of whom — about 81,000 — live in Quebec, with nearly half of that population being in Montreal.

At last count, state officials reported 2,122 deaths and 2,421 people injured after the Kingdom of Morocco was shaken by a 6.8 magnitude earthquake late Friday, about 70 kilometers south of Marrakech. At least one mosque in Montreal said it is collecting donations to send to Morocco, while multiple people on a Facebook page dedicated to Moroccan Montrealers posted online, asking how they could help.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his condolences to the people of Morocco in a social media post, saying Canada is ready to help however it can. At least one mosque in Montreal said it is collecting donations to send to Morocco, while multiple people on a Facebook page dedicated to Moroccan Montrealers posted online, asking how they could help.

In London, Ontario, the local Moroccan community gathered over the weekend to pray for the victims of the earthquake and discuss ways to help their loved ones in the country. Abdallah Haida, vice-president of the Moroccan Association of London Ontario, said his team is working with global agencies such as Islamic Relief Canada and local charities in Morocco to help send money and basic necessities to those impacted by the tragedy.

Some relief workers from Canada are also on their way to Morocco, according to Rahul Singh, the executive director of Ontario-based humanitarian aid organization GlobalMedic. Singh told CBC News that these teams will be helping relief workers on the ground and providing clean drinking water to survivors.

Global Affairs Canada said it was not aware of any Canadian citizens injured or killed in Morocco. The department is in close contact with the United Nations, the Red Cross, and other non-governmental organizations. Canada is one of multiple countries that have offered support to Morocco in the aftermath of the devastation, but the country has not issued a formal request for help.