Morocco Earthquake Death Toll Nears 2,700 as Rescuers Search for Survivors

•Buhari sad, sends condolence message to King of Morocco

Villagers wept for their lost relatives in the rubble of their homes yesterday, as the death toll from Morocco’s deadliest earthquake in more than six decades rose to almost 2,700 and rescuers raced against time to find survivors.

Search teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar were joining Moroccan rescue efforts after a 6.8 magnitude quake struck late on Friday in the High Atlas Mountains, with the epicentre 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech.

The state news agency reported the death toll had risen to 2,681 with 2,501 people injured. According to Reuters, rescuers said the traditional mud brick houses ubiquitous in the region reduced the chances of finding survivors because they had crumbled.

Among the dead was 7-year-old Suleiman Aytnasr, whose mother had carried him to his bedroom after he fell asleep in the living room of their home in a hamlet outside Talat N’Yaaqoub, in one of the worst-hit areas. He was about to start a new school year.

“As she came back, the earthquake happened and the ceiling was destroyed and fell on him,” said Suleiman’s father, Brahim Aytnasr, whose eyes were red from crying. He had spent Monday trying to salvage items from the debris of his house.

Another son, 20-year-old Mouath, had escaped by climbing through a hole in the collapsed kitchen ceiling.

Footage from the remote village of Imi N’Tala, filmed by Spanish rescuer Antonio Nogales of the aid group Bomberos Unidos Sin Fronteras (United Firefighters Without Borders), showed men and dogs clambering over steep slopes covered in rubble.

Meanwhile, former President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sadness over the death of hundreds of people, injury to many and damage in many places by the recent strong earthquake that rocked central Morocco.

In a personally signed letter yesterday, to King Muhammad the V1, the ruler of Morocco with whom he said he had a good working relationship while in officeon Monday, Buhari said: “It is with a deep sense of sadness that I write on behalf of my family and myself to express our deepest sympathies and condolences to you and the people of the Kingdom of Morocco in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck your country on 8th September 2023.

“I am deeply saddened by the loss of lives destruction of property caused by the earthquake. I stand in solidarity with Your Majesty and the people of Morocco in this difficult time and pray for the swift recovery of those who were affected by this tragedy. May the souls of the departed rest in peace, and may Allah bring peace and solace to those affected.

“While extending, once again, my condolences, please accept, Your Majesty, the assurances of my highest consideration and esteem.”