Morocco Earthquake: Death Toll Increases To 2,901 And 5,530 Others Injured

Evacuation of victims of the Moroccan earthquake. (Wikimedia Commons/alyaoum24)

JAKARTA - The death toll and injuries from the earthquake that rocked Morocco continued to grow, as the search and evacuation process had passed the fourth night until Tuesday evening local time, while people in the mountainous areas affected complained about the assistance they had not received.

State television reported that the death toll from the Richter-scale quake that hit the High Atlas Mountains on Friday night increased to 2,901, while the number of injured people more than doubled to 5,530.

The quake was the deadliest earthquake in North African country since 1960 and the most powerful in more than a century.

Rescue teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar helped the Moroccan search team. Meanwhile, Italy, Belgium, France and Germany said their offer of assistance had not yet been approved.

This situation is the saddest for people in remote areas affected by landslides due to earthquakes that block road access. Meanwhile, in locations that are easily accessible, relief efforts are increased by setting up tents and distributing food and water.

Mehdi Ait Buyali (24), one of the survivors who fled by setting up a tent on the side of the Tizi n'Test road, which connects remote valleys to the historic city of Marrakesh, along with several people who have also left their destroyed village.

He said they had received food and blankets from passersby, but did not receive anything from the state.

"Villages in the valley have been forgotten. We need any help. We need tents," he said, criticizing government aid efforts.

In its first television appearance since the earthquake, King Mohammed VI visited Marrakesh, 72 km (45 miles) from the epicenter, to meet injured people at the hospital, where state news agency said he donated blood.

It said the hope of finding survivors was fading, one of which was because many traditional mud brick houses common in High Atlas were destroyed into debris without leaving air bags.

To date, Morocco is known to have received offers of assistance from Spain, Britain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. However, they have not received offers of assistance from Italy, Belgium, France, and Germany.

Germany said on Monday that it did not consider the decision to be political, but Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Taji told Rtl radio station on Tuesday Morocco had chosen to receive assistance only from countries with close ties to him.

French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to the Moroccan people via video message on the same day, saying Paris was ready to provide direct humanitarian assistance if King Mohammed accepted France's offer.

"I would like to speak directly to the Moroccans to inform you that France is grieving the terrible earthquake. We will be on your side," President Macron said.

Paris and Rabat have had tense ties in recent years, particularly regarding the disputed West Sahara region, where Morocco wants France to recognize as their territory. Morocco also has not had a diplomatic envoy in Paris since January.