Maroc declares three days of mourning after devastating earthquake
Maroc has declared three days of national mourning following a devastating earthquake that struck the country on Saturday, killing more than 2,000 people and injuring over 2,000 more.
The death toll is expected to rise as rescue crews continue to search for survivors under the rubble of collapsed buildings, hampered by blocked roads in some isolated areas of the Atlas Mountains. Authorities have called on citizens to donate blood for the injured.
In Marrakech, the epicentre of the quake, the tremors caused widespread damage to buildings, including religious structures and vehicles. In fear, many residents chose to spend the night outdoors to avoid further danger.
Local hospitals are overwhelmed with the number of injured, and doctors say they need help.
VOX: "Students and professors are here, so we are doing our best just to follow their orders. I want to tell everyone that blood donation is primordial right now."
The call from authorities and doctors for blood donations has been heard by security forces, who have gone to the hospital in the hope of saving more lives.
In the meantime, locals have mobilised and filled bags with food, water, and other supplies to be delivered to the hardest-hit area. Rescue crews, as well as ordinary people, continue to search for survivors under buildings reduced to rubble.
"Yes, we are looking under the rubble and another resident came to help us. I didn't understand what happened. A family of six died in the earthquake. Everyone is afraid. God have mercy on them," says one local.
Survivors of the disaster say they were terrified and that the earthquake caused extensive damage to their homes.
"I was taking a bucket of water, and at one point the ground started to shake. I had to run for safety. The wall cracked under the post and everything fell to the ground. I ran down the street with my children. When we heard that our neighbour was trapped under the rubble, we rushed to save her," says Ismael Ait Dahman, a resident of the province of Al Haouz.
"I was sleeping when the earthquake happened. I couldn't escape because the roof fell on me. I was trapped under the rubble. I was rescued by my neighbours who cleared the rubble with their bare hands. Now I live with them in their house because mine was completely destroyed," says Fatha Bechar, a resident of the province of Al Haouz.
"I feel sorry for the little boy I saw today. He was crying because both his aunt and her daughter were trapped under the rubble. We must be strong to help these people. We can't fail. We must help each other," says another local.
In some communities, people have already laid their loved ones to rest.
The devastating earthquake struck Morocco at 23:11 local time on Saturday, with a magnitude of 6.8 on the Richter scale. It was the most powerful earthquake in the area in over 120 years.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
