The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco on Friday night has risen to 2,681, according to the latest official figures. The 6.8-magnitude quake, the deadliest in the country’s history, hit the High Atlas Mountains south of Marrakesh, destroying many rural and remote villages.
Rescue workers are facing difficulties reaching the affected areas as roads are blocked by boulders and debris. Heavy lifting equipment is scarce, and some villages are only accessible by helicopter. The Moroccan government has been criticized for rejecting offers of aid from several countries, saying it wants to avoid a chaotic situation.
The quake also damaged historic sites, such as the Tinmel Mosque in the mountains and parts of Marrakesh’s old city, a World Heritage Site. Thousands of people have been left homeless and in need of food, water and medical care. The World Health Organization reports that more than 300,000 people have been affected by the disaster.
Some survivors have expressed anger and frustration at the slow pace of relief efforts. “We have not seen any help from the government or anyone else. We are sleeping in the open, under the rain and the cold. We have no food, no water, no blankets,” said Fatima, a resident of Tafeghaghte, a village that lost half of its population in the quake.
However, some private clinics and local communities have stepped up to provide assistance to the victims. Dr Clare McCaughey, a GP based in Marrakesh, said her clinic will not hesitate to “provide care to any earthquake victims free of charge”. She also praised the solidarity and generosity of Moroccans, who have been donating supplies and transporting them to the mountains.
The Moroccan government has declared three days of national mourning and promised to allocate funds for reconstruction and compensation. King Mohammed VI visited some of the affected areas on Saturday and expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. He also ordered an investigation into the causes and consequences of the quake.
The earthquake is the strongest to hit Morocco since 1909, when a 6.4 magnitude quake killed about 800 people in Agadir. Scientists say that Morocco is located in a seismically active zone, where the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collide. They warn that more earthquakes are possible in the future.
However, they also say that better building codes and early warning systems can help reduce the impact of such events. Some experts have suggested that Morocco join the Mediterranean Tsunami Warning System, which could alert coastal populations in case of a tsunami triggered by an earthquake.
Source: AP NewsÂ
