The death toll from a powerful earthquake that hit Morocco’s Atlas Mountains region late on Friday has risen to 2,122.
The historic city of Marrakesh, a well-liked tourist attraction, is located around 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the 6.8-magnitude earthquake.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was the most powerful to have struck the area around the ancient city of Marrakech in a century.
Many people in the old city were forced to sleep on the streets after the disaster since their homes were destroyed.
The most severe damage has occurred in remote, difficult-to-access alpine areas. The destruction to entire communities, according to locals, prevented rescuers from pulling bodies out of the debris.
King Mohammed VI has thanked Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates for sending aid following the earthquake that struck Morocco, state-run broadcaster Al Aoula said Sunday.
“The Moroccan authorities conducted a careful assessment of the needs in the field, taking into account that a lack of coordination in such cases would be counterproductive,” the king said, according to an interior ministry statement posted by state broadcaster 2M.
“On these basis, the Moroccan authorities responded, at this particular stage, to the offers of support made by friendly countries Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, which suggested mobilizing a group of search and rescue teams,” he continued.
“Moreover, with the progress of interventions, the assessment of potential needs may develop, which may lead to going back to offers of support from other friendly countries, according to the needs of each stage separately.”
