Rescuers raced against time on Monday to find survivors in the rubble more than 48 hours after Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in more than six decades, with more than 2,100 dead in a disaster that devastated villages in the High Atlas Mountains.
Search teams from Spain and Britain are joining efforts to find survivors of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck 45 miles southwest of Marrakesh on Friday night.
Many survivors spent a third night outdoors, their homes destroyed or made unsafe by the most powerful earthquake to hit Morocco since at least 1900.
Women react as volunteers recover the body of a family member from the rubble of collapsed houses in the village of Imi N’Tala, near Amizmiz, central Morocco, after the deadly 6.8 magnitude earthquake . AFP via Getty Images
The death toll rose to 2,122 and 2,421 people were injured, state television reported late Sunday.
In the village of Tafeghaghte, Hamid ben Henna described how his eight-year-old son died under the rubble after going to get a knife from the kitchen while the family was eating dinner. The rest of the family survived.
People have been rescuing possessions from the ruins of their homes and describing desperate scenes as they dug with their bare hands to find their relatives.
Family members embrace near the rubble of collapsed buildings in the village of Imi N’Tala, near Amizmiz, central Morocco. AFP via Getty Images
The damage caused to Morocco’s cultural heritage has gradually emerged. Buildings in Marrakech’s World Heritage old city were damaged.
The earthquake also reportedly caused significant damage to the historically significant 12th-century Tinmel Mosque in a remote mountainous area closer to the epicenter.
Survivors struggling to find shelter and supplies have expressed criticism of what they have described as an initially slow response from the government.
Emergency workers carry a body after a deadly earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco. REUTERS
Emergency workers search beneath a heavily damaged house in Moulay Brahim, Morocco. fake images
Morocco has deployed the army as part of its response and has said it is reinforcing search and rescue teams, providing clean water and distributing food, tents and blankets.
State television reported Sunday that the government could accept offers of help from other countries and will work to coordinate them if necessary.
Britain and Spain have sent search and rescue specialists with sniffer dogs. For its part, Qatar said Sunday that its search and rescue team left for Morocco.
People camp on the roadside after the deadly earthquake in Imgdal, Morocco. REUTERS
Spain said it received an official request for help from Morocco on Sunday.
France, among countries offering assistance, said on Sunday it was willing to help and was awaiting a formal request from Morocco.
King Mohammed VI thanked Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates for sending aid, state television reported on Sunday.
A satellite image shows damaged buildings after a powerful earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco. Via REUTERS
Emergency workers carry a body after the deadly earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco. REUTERS
Morocco assessed aid needs and considered the importance of coordinating relief efforts before accepting its aid, he added.
Since many houses were built with mud bricks and wood or cement and breeze blocks, the structures collapsed easily. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit the North African country since 1960, when a large tremor was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn