IMGDAL, Morocco – A frantic race against time is underway in the wake of Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in over six decades, which has left nearly 2,500 people dead and devastated communities in the High Atlas Mountains. Rescuers have been tirelessly working for more than 48 hours to locate survivors trapped in the rubble.
The earthquake, measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale, struck late on Friday night approximately 72 kilometers (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, unleashing widespread destruction. In response, search teams from Spain, Britain, and Qatar have joined forces to locate survivors in the disaster zone.
For many survivors, the nightmare continues as they spend their third night outside, with their homes either destroyed or rendered unsafe by Morocco’s most powerful earthquake since at least 1900. The latest update from the state news agency reports a grim death toll of 2,497, with an additional 2,476 people injured.
In Imgdal, a village approximately 75 kilometers (45 miles) south of Marrakech, women and children have sought refuge under makeshift tents erected along the road, next to damaged buildings. Further south, a car remains crushed under boulders that tumbled from a cliff.
In the village of Tafeghaghte, Hamid ben Henna heartbreakingly recounted how his eight-year-old son lost his life under wreckage while fetching a knife from the kitchen during the family’s evening meal. The rest of the family managed to survive.
With much of the earthquake’s impact concentrated in hard-to-reach areas, the full extent of the tragedy has yet to be realized. Authorities have not provided estimates for the number of people still missing, and blocked or obstructed roads, strewn with dislodged rocks, are hampering access to the most severely affected locations.
Survivors are desperately salvaging their possessions from the ruins of their homes, and many have shared harrowing accounts of digging with their bare hands to locate missing family members. Traditional structures, constructed from mud bricks and timber, crumbled easily in the earthquake’s wake.
The earthquake has also caused significant damage to Morocco’s cultural heritage. Buildings in Marrakech’s historic city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, have sustained damage. Reports indicate that the historically significant 12th-century Tinmel Mosque, located closer to the epicenter in a remote mountain area, has suffered major destruction.
Criticism has emerged from survivors struggling to find shelter and supplies, as they initially perceived the government’s response as slow. In response, Morocco has deployed the army as part of its efforts and is reinforcing search-and-rescue teams. They are providing drinking water, distributing food, tents, and blankets to those in need.
This earthquake stands as Morocco’s deadliest since 1960 when a tremor claimed an estimated 12,000 lives.
In a televised statement on Sunday, government spokesperson Mustapha Baytas assured the public that every possible effort is being made on the ground. King Mohammed VI has instructed the prime minister to convene a ministerial committee on Monday to develop emergency plans, including home reconstruction.
King Mohammed expressed gratitude to Spain, Qatar, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates for their aid, as reported by state TV. Morocco assessed aid needs and considered the importance of coordinating relief efforts before accepting international assistance.
Search-and-rescue specialists with sniffer dogs have been dispatched by Britain and Spain, while Qatar sent its search-and-rescue team to Morocco. Spain, on its part, received an official request for aid from Morocco on Sunday.