Morocco quake survivors plead for help as rescuers race against time

Issued on: 12/09/2023 – 06:54Modified: 12/09/2023 – 07:02

1 min

6:20am: Moroccan authorities under pressure to accept more aid

Morocco is under pressure to accept help from more countries after agreeing to take assistance from only four nations, including Spain and Britain.

The government in Rabat has so far declined to accept help from other countries including France and Germany. Paris on Monday pledged to send 5 million euros to aid organisations operating in the country.

Madrid said late Monday it was reinforcing its presence on the ground in Morocco with another five canine rescue teams comprising “31 specialists, 15 search and rescue dogs and 11 vehicles” arriving on Tuesday.

5:15am: Survivors suffer as Morocco quake aid trickles in

Rescuers supported by foreign teams faced a race against time to find those still alive after villages in the Atlas mountains were devastated by the 6.8-magnitude disaster that struck over the weekend.  

The deadly quake has put a heavy burden on the North African kingdom’s emergency resources and aid has been slow to reach impacted areas. FRANCE 24’s Clemence Weller reports.

Key developments from Monday, September 11:

Rescuers on Monday faced a growing race against time to dig any survivors from the rubble of devastated villages in Morocco’s Atlas mountains, three days after the massive earthquake that has killed over 2,800 people so far.

Rabat says it has accepted aid offers from four foreign nations, while many other countries have also said they are willing to send assistance.

The French government pledged 5 million euros ($5.4 million) to aid organisations operating in the quake-stricken country.

Read our blog to see how the day’s events unfolded. 

(FRANCE 24 with AP, AFP, Reuters)