Quake-hit Moroccans seek aid amid rising death toll and cultural damage

TAKUDZWA HILLARY CHIWANZA

More than 2,000 people have died in Morocco's worst earthquake in over 60 years, and the number is expected to rise as rescue workers struggle to reach remote villages in the High Atlas mountains, where many houses collapsed and survivors lack food and water.

Image/Agencies.

The 6.8 magnitude quake struck late on Friday, shaking the historic city of Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and damaging a 12th century mosque that was a symbol of the country's cultural heritage.

Many people spent a second night outdoors, fearing aftershocks and hoping for aid from the government and international organisations. Some complained of slow or insufficient relief efforts, while others expressed gratitude for the solidarity shown by their fellow citizens.

The quake was the deadliest in Morocco since 1960, when more than 12,000 people were killed in the southern city of Agadir. It also rattled neighbouring Algeria, where two people died and dozens were injured.