Moroccan earthquake survivors gathered for a night in the open in the High Atlas Mountains on Saturday, a day after the country’s biggest quake in more than six decades killed over 2,000 people and destroyed towns.
Neighbors were still searching for survivors buried on the slopes, where mud brick, stone, and rough wood houses had been broken open and mosque minarets had fallen by the late-Friday quake. Marrakech’s ancient old city was also severely damaged.
According to the Interior Ministry, 2,012 people died and 2,059 were injured, with 1,404 critically injured.
The quake had a magnitude of 6.8 and its epicentre was 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech, according to the US Geological Survey.
Morocco has proclaimed three days of national mourning, during which time the country’s flag will be flown at half-staff, the royal court announced on Saturday.
The Moroccan military forces will send rescue teams to impacted communities to give clean drinking water, food, tents, and blankets, according to the statement.
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