Morocco earthquake survivors seek aid as death toll surges past 2,400

Search for the missing victims underway with death toll feared to increase further

Web Desk

September 11, 2023

Qatari International Search, Rescue Group personnel and aid onboard a military cargo plane destined for Morocco to provide support on the ground, after an earthquake struck the country, at Al Udeid Air Base, near Doha, Qatar, September 10, 2023. — Reuters

Search for earthquake survivors continues for the third day.
Relief workers battle worst-affected villages for rescue efforts.
Morocco's cultural heritage sites suffer damage.

The deadliest earthquake to strike Morocco in more than 60 years left survivors scrambling to find food, water, and shelter on Sunday as the search for the missing victims continued.

The search for the missing victims is underway in isolated settlements and the death toll which rose to more than 2,400, is feared to increase further.

After the catastrophic 6.8 magnitude earthquake, that collapsed settlements following an upward explosion that struck late on Friday, many people were spending a third night outside.

Reaching the worst-affected villages in the High Atlas, a rough mountain terrain where populations are sometimes inaccessible and where many homes collapsed, is a difficulty for relief personnel, Reuters reported.

Members of Qatar Emiri Air Force load up Lekhwiyas International Search and Rescue Group equipments onto a military cargo aircraft headed to Morocco to provide aid on the ground, after an earthquake struck the country, at Al Udeid Air Base, in Doha, Qatar, September 10, 20223. — Reuters — Members of Qatar Emiri Air Force load up Lekhwiya's International Search and Rescue Group equipments onto a military cargo aircraft headed to Morocco to provide aid on the ground, after an earthquake struck the country, at Al Udeid Air Base, in Doha, Qatar, September 10, 20223. — Reuters

Morocco's interior ministry said that the death toll has climbed to 2,497 with 2,476 people injured. The ministry previously said that 2,122 people have died and 2,400 wounded.

Meanwhile, aid is being dispatched to the affected residents after the country said that it would accept relief offers from other countries and coordinate with them if needed.

Countries including Turkey, Kuwait, Oman, US, Spain, UK and many more have sent aid to the country during such difficult times.

The deadly earthquake did not spare the iconic cultural heritage sites of the country as Moroccan media announced the collapse of a major mosque from the 12th century.

Additionally, a portion of Marrakech's Old City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was also destroyed by the earthquake.

Residents of Moulay Brahim, a community 40 kilometres (25 miles) south of Marrakech, recalled pulling the deceased out of the debris with their own hands.

A view shows damaged buildings and debris, in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Moulay Brahim, Morocco, September 10, 2023. — Reuters

The aftermath of the earthquake displayed a sorrowful site as, on a hillside overlooking the village, residents buried a 45-year-old woman who had died along with her 18-year-old son, while a woman sobbed loudly as the body was lowered into the grave.

Meanwhile, Hussein Adnaie, who was retrieving possessions from his damaged home, said he believed people were still buried in the rubble nearby.