Devastated by the country's biggest earthquake in over a century, people in the quake-affected areas in Morocco are still reeling under the its horror.
The death toll has crossed over 2,800 and many villagers and survivor are still seeking shelter in the courtyards and streets. Though the rescue operations are still ongoing, the difficult terrain and the damaged roads are hampering the search efforts.
Search teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar joined the Moroccan efforts to find survivors.
The quake had struck Morocco's Atlas Mountains on Friday late night damaging the historic buildings in Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Fatalities were reported in Al-Haouz and Taroudant provinces as well.
Over 2,500 people have been injured and authorities are yet to estimate the number of people who have gone missing.
The quake almost damaged the entire village of Tinmel leaving several homeless. The quake damaged the historically significant 12th-century Tinmel Mosque as well.
Mouhamad Elhasan, 59, has lost his son as their neighbour's roof collapsed when the earthquake struck. Since Elhasan and his wife stayed inside, they survived.
"If he stayed inside the house he would have been ok," Elhasan was quoted by Reuters.
Tent camps were set up by the authorities in certain areas to provide shelter to those homeless. Morocco's King Mohammed VI ordered that a relief commission be set up to distribute aid to survivors.
According to UNICEF, at least 1,00,000 children were affected by the devastating earthquake. “Thousands of homes have been destroyed, displacing families, and exposing them to the elements at a time of year when temperatures drop down during the nighttime. Schools, hospitals and other medical and educational facilities have been damaged or destroyed by the quakes, further impacting children,” UNICEF said in a statement.
Nearly 1,500 people have died in the province of Al Haouz, one of the worst affected areas.
The armed forces deployed teams to provide quake-hit areas with clean drinking water, food supplies, tents and blankets.
Earlier too Morocco was hit with powerful earthquakes. Around 12,000 people were killed in an earthquake in Agadir in 1960.