More than 2,100 dead: race against time in search of earthquake victims in Morocco

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As people spent a third night in a row on the streets of Marrakech and elsewhere, fearing more aftershocks, soldiers and foreign aid teams began moving to remote mountain villages in trucks and helicopters. Military vehicles loaded with bulldozers and logistics equipment tried to clear roads of landslides in rugged terrain so ambulances could get through, online newspaper Morocco World News reported.

For the search and rescue services it is a race against time: experts give a guideline of 72 hours in which a person can go without water for the longest time. Hundreds of people are still missing in Morocco. The magnitude 6.8 earthquake, Morocco’s worst in decades, struck late Friday evening. Since then, the North African country, where earthquakes are generally rare, has been hit by further aftershocks. According to official information so far, at least 2,122 people have been killed and at least 2,421 other people have been injured.

Although several countries, including Germany, have offered their help, Morocco will initially only accept support from four countries. As the Interior Ministry said late on Sunday evening, after a thorough investigation, authorities had “responded to offers of support from friendly countries Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates.” It was not known whether Germany was also asked for help. In any case, German aid organizations such as the Technical Relief Agency sent the employees they made available back home for the time being.

Saudi Arabia also wants to support Morocco. King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have ordered the creation of an airlift to deliver aid to Morocco, state news agency SPA reported late on Sunday evening. The two Arab countries traditionally maintain friendly relations. A Saudi search and rescue team is expected to support the rescuers, according to a report in the English-language newspaper Arab News.

Meanwhile, in Morocco, the government announced a special aid fund for the needy population. This was partly intended to cover the costs of securing damaged homes, Moroccan news site Hespress reported, citing a government spokesperson. There was no information about the amount of the fund. It should consist of money from public institutions and voluntary contributions from the private sector, it was said. In addition to local hospitals and ambulance services, more than 1,000 doctors and 1,500 nurses were mobilized to provide medical care to the more than 2,000 injured people. (SDA)

Source: Blick