FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 has struck Morocco. According to local media, the number of victims has reached 2,000 people and about 2,000 others have been injured.
Many Moroccans are spending their second night on the streets after the powerful tremors. Thousands of families are waking up in makeshift camps, staying outside the famous Medina, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Residents are afraid to return to their homes. Inside the old town, piles of bricks and rubble are scattered around. Strong tremors were felt throughout Morocco.
But emergency search and rescue teams are focusing their efforts on deep mountain villages near the epicenter, where hundreds of people are still believed to be trapped under the rubble of their homes.
Entire settlements have been leveled and the Red Cross has warned that it will take years to repair the damage.
Last evening, the government declared three days of national mourning.
The government also announced that it will help with shelter, food and other aid for survivors and for the armed forces to help rescue teams.
Flags will be flown at half-mast in all public buildings, according to the state news agency.
Recall that the epicenter of the earthquake was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71 km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh - a city with world heritage status which is popular with tourists. But tremors were also felt in the capital Rabat, some 350 km away, as well as in Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira.
The Interior Ministry says Al Haouz province has the highest death toll, followed by Taroudant province.
Lini një Përgjigje