The death toll from the powerful earthquake in Morocco has continued to rise and is now at least 2,862.
At the same time, the hope that those who can still be rescued from the race masses will be alive is sinking – when three days have almost passed since the disaster.
– We have lost everything, says Fatima, a resident of Talat N’Yaaqoub.
Friday’s quake had a magnitude of 6.8 and an epicenter near the Talat N’Yaaqoub area in Morocco. An area where Fatima and her family used to have their homes. Three days have passed since their house collapsed – and eleven of her family members have died.
– It’s a disaster, you can’t even imagine it. The brain cannot process this, says Fatima to TV4 Nyheterna.
The death toll is rising
During Monday evening, authorities in the country announced that the death toll has now risen to at least 2,862. A figure that is expected to rise further, as rescue efforts have been delayed. Access is limited in several of the worst affected immediately and the larger excavators that the work requires in some places have not yet arrived.
– We have lost everything. Our families and everyone we loved – the ones we grew up with. There are no relatives or anyone left to meet.
A number of countries have offered their help in the great rescue work Morocco has in front of it. But Morocco doesn’t seem to want everyone’s help. According to TV4’s Middle East correspondent on the ground in Morocco, there is still uncertainty about why international aid is delayed.
– They have to formally ask for help in order for countries like France, Turkey or Israel – all of whom have offered help – to step in, but there is something that makes Morocco not do it. The only thing that has come out is that they want to be able to organize this well so that it does not become chaos, says Terese Cristiansson, Middle Eastern correspondent.
“Many people we spoke to are frustrated”
According to Cristiansson, frustration is now growing among the country’s affected population that help is delayed.
– Many people we spoke to are frustrated and say: “You have to ask for help, we need help, it’s too big an area”. They are asking for more helicopters, more machines and more rescue personnel, she says.
Friday’s quake was the deadliest to hit Morocco since 1960, when an earthquake wiped out Agadir, killing between 12,000 and 15,000 people.