HANAN HARITE

Morocco- The death toll of the 7-magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8 keeps rising. On the third day of the earthquake, the search and rescue efforts continue while the death toll has risen to 2,112.

 ‘We are waiting for our relatives to be rescued’

One of the cities that have been badly affected by the earthquake is Taroundant, where 492 people have lost their lives. In the Tinkelyan village of Taroudant, almost all houses collapsed in the earthquake. NuJINHA spoke to the women of the village, who have been waiting for their relatives to be rescued from rubbles for three days.

 “We still do not know how many people have lost their lives. Many families have become homeless. We still cannot believe what happened. We have lost our children and families. There are still people trapped under the rubble. For three days, we have been waiting for our relatives to be rescued by rescue teams. People suffering from chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart diseases need help. The earthquake deepens their suffering. What we have been experiencing is a tragedy. Many children have lost their parents,” said one of the women.

 ‘All houses in the village collapsed’

The women, who have lost all their family members in the village, suffer from trauma now. One of the women said, “All houses in the village collapsed in the earthquake. We live in a mountainous area, and most of the villages are isolated and difficult to reach.”

A crisis desk established in Taroudant

A crisis desk has been established in the city of Taroudant. The authorities use drones and airplanes for search and rescue efforts and to deliver humanitarian aid to people living in mountainous regions.

Historical buildings collapsed

Many historical buildings such as the Tinmal Mosque, a 12th-century mosque located in the village of Tinmel in the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco, have collapsed due to the earthquake.

Aftershocks

People still suffer from aftershocks in Morocco. Moroccan Justice Minister Abdellatif Ouahbi had announced that a number of villages located in the mountainous areas had been wiped off the map by the earthquake and that some historical buildings were severely damaged by the earthquake. “The authorities are working to shelter residents who are unable to return to their homes in the affected areas,” he said.