Death toll of Morocco earthquake surpasses 2,800
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Casualties toll of the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Morocco on Sept. 8 climbed to 2,862 killings and 2,562 injuries, state-run broadcaster 2M said on Monday.
However, rescuers are still searching through rubble and trying to reach survivors amid fading hope for finding any. The earthquake is the strongest that hits the country in more than a century.
The earthquake struck at around 11.11 pm local time. Its epicenter was located in the High Atlas mountain range, specifically Ighil, a mountainous rural commune in Al-Haouz province near the Oukaimeden ski resort.
“We expect this initial release of money to make a difference on the ground. It will be used to buy essential supplies locally in Morocco. The people in the Moroccan Red Crescent know their communities best, and know best what is needed,” Dr. Hossam Elsharkawi, Regional Director of Middle East and North Africa for the IFRC, said.
About 100,000 children have been affected by the powerful earthquake, UNICEF said. “While UNICEF doesn’t yet know the exact number of children killed and injured, the latest estimates from 2022 indicate that children represent almost a third of the population in Morocco,” the agency said in a statement.
The European Commission announced that the European Union pledged to provide €1 million ($1.07 million) to the quake-hit Morocco to support relief efforts in areas affected by the earthquake.
“As the EU stands in solidarity with the Moroccan people, we are releasing funding of €1 million to help meet the most urgent needs of the population most affected,” EU Crisis Commissioner Janez Lenarcic said in a statement.
Caroline Holt, Director – Disaster, Climate and Crises for the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said, “The challenges are vast. The search and rescue effort is the focus at this point – and trying to get heavy machinery into those remote areas of the Atlas Mountains to help with that is a priority. But we also know that many people have suffered serious injuries – everything from broken bones to severe head wounds and identifying and prioritising the most severe cases is key. Our partner on the ground – the Moroccan Red Crescent – is really working to provide First Aid and keep people safe from harm as the aftershocks continue.”