The death toll from Morocco’s devasting 6.8 magnitude earthquake has reached 2,100 as of September 11. The number is still expected to rise as bodies are pulled out of the rubble.
News agency AP reported that 1,351 people were reported dead from the Al Haouz district in the High Atlas Mountains. Authorities informed that over 2,400 people were also injured.
Friday night’s earthquake has become one of the worst modern-day natural disasters to hit Morocco.
Morocco has declined all foreign aid from all countries, except Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Arab Emirates. The United States and France also reportedly offered aid to the North African country.
The Interior Ministry said that “authorities have carefully assessed the needs on the ground, bearing in mind that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive,” AP reported.
“We know there is a great urgency to save people and dig under the remains of buildings,” said Arnaud Fraisse, founder of Rescuers Without Borders, who had a team stuck in Paris waiting for the green light.
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“There are people dying under the rubble, and we cannot do anything to save them,” Fraisse added.
(With AP inputs)