The sports community has come together to offer support after the devastating earthquake in Morocco that killed over 2,800 people ©Getty Images

The sports community has come together to offer support and condolences after the devastating earthquake in Morocco that killed over 2,800 people.

More than 2,500 people have been injured in the 6.8-magnitude earthquake on Friday (September 8), which was the deadliest to hit the North African nation in six decades.

Search and rescue teams from Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates are already helping the nation as the disaster damaged buildings from villages in the Atlas Mountains, with the epicentre 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech.

Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) President Mustapha Berraf expressed his deepest condolences after the incident.

"In the face of such a tragedy, the African Olympic and sports movement wishes to express its solidarity to all the Moroccan people," a statement from ANOCA read.

"ANOCA Executive Committee members hereby express their sympathy to the families of the victims and, above all, to the Moroccan Olympic and sports movement."

In the light of the damage, the African Cup of Nations qualifier between Morocco and Liberia on Saturday (September 9) was postponed.

Team members of the Atlas Lions donated blood to victims.

Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah said he was "deeply saddened to learn of the earthquake that struck the Kingdom of Morocco, resulting in hundreds of victims and damage to historic monuments and buildings in the Al Haouz region, including the renowned city of Marrakech", in a letter addressed to Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco.

ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf expressed his deepest condolences after the earthquake ©ANOCA
ANOCA President Mustapha Berraf expressed his deepest condolences after the earthquake ©ANOCA

Elsewhere in Tunisia, a minute of silence was observed as the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) African Championships started yesterday.

It is being reported that the death toll in Morocco could increase as rescue workers have not been able to reach some remote villages.

Roads have been blocked with many believed to be stuck in the rubble of buildings destroyed.

Earlier this year, multiple sports events in Turkey was postponed or cancelled after an earthquake struck the country and Syria, taking the lives of more than 50,000 people.

Many athletes lost their lives during the disaster in in February, including Turkish men's handball team captain Cemal Kütahya and Ghana footballer Christian Atsu.