Survivors in parts of Morocco devastated by the country’s biggest earthquake in over a century camped outside for a fourth night on Monday as the death toll rose to more than 2,800 people. Many were still traumatized from Friday’s 6.8 magnitude quake that flattened the traditional mud brick houses ubiquitous in the region and was the strongest to hit the North African kingdom since 1960.
Many of the hardest-hit villages are in mountainous areas where the roads are blocked or obstructed by debris, making it challenging to aid people in need. In one quake-ravaged village, residents used dynamite to clear away collapsed rocks and rubble from the remains of their homes as they searched for their loved ones.
At least 12 foreign search and rescue teams have joined Moroccan efforts to find survivors from the disaster that shook the High Atlas Mountains about 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, the nation’s most prominent tourist destination and fourth-largest city. But a lack of coordination is hampering the operation, and some aid teams have withdrawn after waiting for the government to request help, a Moroccan official said officially.
He added that he was concerned the lack of coordination could hamper the effort to reach all affected people and that some victims might die because of the delay. “Our goal is to provide all necessary help and assistance to the victims,” he said.
The government has called on the public to donate blood and help in the relief efforts, and local performers are collecting money. However, many survivors have not received any aid. Many villagers have been left homeless as their homes were destroyed or rendered unsafe, and some have been forced to flee to the streets out of fear of aftershocks.
Several governments and the UN have offered to provide rescue and recovery assistance. Still, an expert on natural disasters in Africa told CNN that those efforts will take time for the country to cope with the scale of the damage. He warned that there would likely be many people who need shelter, food, water, and medical care.
Despite the catastrophe, some residents remained hopeful. “I am a bit optimistic because there is some hope of finding some survivors,” a man who lives in the shattered village of Amizmiz, 35 miles southwest of Marrakech, told Reuters.
The North African kingdom has also received offers of help from international donors, including the United States, which sent an emergency relief team to assist with the rescue efforts. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke to Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita on Sunday, extending his condolences and offering US support for the nation’s leadership in response to the disaster. The two officials discussed how the US can best support relief efforts, and they pledged to stay in close contact as the response continues. The United Nations has also deployed a disaster assessment team to help Morocco assess the damage and respond accordingly.
