Rescuers try to find survivors after earthquake in Morocco

Emergency crews are working to find people trapped under rubble after a magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Morocco on Friday. Photo: NACHO DOCE/REUTERS

Many survivors spent a third night on the street, their homes destroyed or unsafe in Morocco's worst earthquake since at least 1900. The death toll rose to 2,122 and 2,421 people were injured, state television reported late on Sunday.

In the village of Tafeghte, Hamid bin Henna told how his eight-year-old son died under rubble after he went to get a knife into the kitchen while the family was having dinner. The rest of the family survived.

People collected items from the ruins of their homes and described desperate scenes as they dug with their bare hands in search of relatives.

The damage to Morocco's cultural heritage is emerging gradually. Buildings in Marrakech's old city, a World Heritage site, were damaged. The quake also reportedly caused extensive damage to the historically significant 12th-century Tinmel Mosque, located in a remote mountainous area closer to the epicenter.

Survivors struggling to find shelter and supplies criticized what they initially called slow government response.

Morocco deployed the army as part of its response and said it was strengthening search and rescue teams. providing drinking water and distributing food, tents and blankets.

State television said on Sunday that the government could accept offers of help from other countries and would work to coordinate them if needed.

p>The UK and Spain sent specialists in search and rescue work with sniffer dogs. For its part, Qatar said on Sunday that its search and rescue team had gone to Morocco. Spain said it received a formal request for help from Morocco on Sunday.

The death toll rose to 2,122, with 2,421 deaths Victim Photo: FADEL SENNA/AFP

France, among the countries offering assistance, said on Sunday it was ready to help and was awaiting a formal request from Morocco.

King Mohammed VI thanked Spain, Qatar, Britain and the United Kingdom United Arab Emirates for sending aid, state television reported on Sunday. Morocco assessed the need for assistance and took into account the importance of coordinating relief efforts before accepting it, they added.

Because many houses are built of mud brick and wood or cement and cinder blocks, the structures are easily destroyed. It was the deadliest earthquake to hit the North African country since 1960, when the powerful tremor is estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people.