Many people in Morocco are spending their fourth night on the streets after an earthquake killed almost 3,000 and wrecked thousands of houses throughout the country. Although the Moroccan military and rescue teams from Spain, Britain, and Qatar were working together, it is becoming increasingly unlikely that any survivors will be found. The Al Haouz area of the High Atlas Mountains, where the earthquake was centered, has the highest death toll. The government claims that many victims were “buried” under rubble that collapsed.
What can be done to aid those affected by the quake in Morocco?
Damage was extensive in the tourist hub of Marrakech and the neighboring towns after Friday night’s massive earthquake that killed and injured hundreds in Morocco. Many people in the area were forced to sleep in the open because they were afraid of further aftershocks and the United Nations estimates that 300,000. As the deadliest earthquake to hit Morocco in more than 60 years continues to be searched for, foreign charity organizations are now seeking money to support people in need.
The moment the earthquake hits, as seen on video from a rooftop restaurant
The BBC said that due to the earthquake, the premiere of the British television show “Race Across the World” had been delayed. A statement on X (formerly Twitter) said, “We of course started off our journey in Marrakesh — it’s a beautiful city and we were so warmly welcomed by everyone during filming.” Our prayers and thoughts are with the people of the country.
Whether or if the show will air remained unclear
There is a competition show called “Race Across the World” that airs on the BBC. This year’s show was supposed to follow famous people and their families as they travelled from Marrakech to Troms, Norway, a distance of more than 10,000 km through 24 different countries.
First responders from the French organization Service d’Aide Medicale Urgente (SAMU) are now in Morocco. Borja González, head of international operations, stated on NBC’s “TODAY” show that he was there near the epicenter of the earthquake and helped with rescue efforts. We’re still hoping to find the individuals who have the rescue dogs,” González stated. It is challenging since the building’s design is so simple. It is filled with muck and dirt, and it is not simple to carve out a safe haven for the survivors.
He lamented that the SAMU members had received few resources to aid them. The “neighbours, volunteers, and ourselves” are “moving all the earth and the rocks and everything to try to look for the people,” he said. It’s completely devoid of machinery. Those mountains are a long way from anything. It’s hardly a cakewalk for robots to get here. When asked if he still had faith in the rescue efforts days after the earthquake, González replied, “There’s always hope.”
Over 2,680 people have already lost their lives
Officials report that over 2,680 people have died and over 2,500 have been wounded. At least 2,681 persons were confirmed killed, and another 2,501 were injured, according to the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior. It was reported that rescue operations are still going on and that first responders are tending to the injured.
British fire fighters have landed in Morocco to aid with the country’s rescue operation. British firefighting crews have landed in Morocco to aid with the country’s rescue operations. Volunteers from the London Fire Brigade and the West Midlands Fire Service, among others, made the trip to Morocco as part of the United Kingdom’s International Search and Rescue Team.
In order to better assess the needs of the affected people and assist local authorities, teams from Doctors without Borders (also known as Médecins Sans Frontières) have arrived in Morocco. We expect most of the uncovered needs to be in the mountainous areas in the High Atlas,” the organization wrote on X (previously Twitter). These locations are also the most inaccessible since highways have been damaged by the quake.
According to a separate statement, Doctors Without Borders staff members arrived in the nation on Saturday and are already conducting assessments. We are extremely saddened by the tragic news of the earthquake that hit Morocco and the high number of victims already reported,” it said.
As is the case with many natural catastrophes, the poor have borne the brunt of this quake’s destruction. Many buildings in the community of Moulay Brahim, located approximately 30 miles east of the epicenter, were not damaged, while those in the poorest parts looked to have been entirely destroyed. The age of the buildings also seems to have a role; older structures seem to collapse more frequently than newer ones.
A mosque that had stood in the local market for 150 years had seen its roof collapse. All that is left of a once-revered local sheikh’s shrine is a decaying tower. A wounded quake victim was evacuated from the town of Moulay Brahim in the High Atlas Mountains in central Morocco by civil defense rescuers today. According to a person who lost his family in the earthquake, the Moroccan government is doing nothing to help him.
To my offspring. My offspring. None of them remains. Local officials are not going to be there. Why do they assume we are not actually Moroccan? On the French news station Le7tv, he made the following statement.
Yesterday, NBC News met with Lahcen Ait Abdallah outside of his destroyed home. The tragedy took the lives of his wife, three little girls, and son, aged 3. Before he found out they were dead, he remarked, “I want to just know if my children and my wife are still alive, if someone can search, look inside if my wife and my children are still alive.” The United Kingdom today dispatched an experienced team of 60 rescuers to aid the Moroccan military in the frantic hunt for survivors, along with specialized equipment and four dogs.
In a video uploaded on X (previously Twitter), British Ambassador to Morocco Simon Martin can be seen in front of a Royal Air Force jet on a runway in Marrakech. Devastation is widespread, affecting even outlying communities like Moulay Ibrahim, making rescue efforts difficult. Residents are leading the charge, digging by hand in a last-ditch bid to find anyone who might still be alive.
Rene Bennett is a graduate of New Jersey, where he played volleyball and annoyed a lot of professors. Now as Zobuz’s Editor, he enjoys writing about delicious BBQ, outrageous style trends and all things Buzz worthy.
