Foreign assistance and search-and-rescue teams are now part of the operation to locate survivors in the debris of Moroccan villages devastated by the country’s most powerful earthquake in history. This 6.8-magnitude quake, which struck three days ago in the Atlas Mountains, had its epicenter below remote mountain villages, approximately 45 miles south of Marrakech. Its impact was felt as far as Morocco’s northern coast.
The Moroccan government has confirmed a grim toll, with at least 2,122 lives lost and more than 2,421 people injured, many of them in critical condition. In Marrakech, people opted to sleep outdoors on streets and in public squares, fearing returning to their homes.
This earthquake ranks as the deadliest in Morocco since the catastrophic 1960 Agadir earthquake, which claimed the lives of over 12,000 individuals.
Spain has dispatched 86 rescuers and eight search dogs to assist Morocco in the search for survivors. Morocco has accepted aid offers from Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as many other nations express their willingness to provide assistance.
Moroccan authorities have responded positively to these offers, particularly from Spain, Britain, Qatar, and the UAE, which have sent search and rescue teams. Coordination with Moroccan authorities is underway, and the government emphasized the importance of coordination to avoid counterproductive efforts.
France has also expressed its readiness to provide aid when requested by Morocco.
The earthquake has led to the destruction of entire villages in the Atlas Mountains, prompting civilian rescuers and Moroccan armed forces to work tirelessly in the search for survivors and the recovery of victims.
