Foreign Teams Arrive in Morocco to Join Search and Rescue Operations for Earthquake Victims
(AWP) - Foreign teams arrived in Morocco to offer support and join the search and rescue operations that have been ongoing since a deadly earthquake struck the kingdom late on Friday and left thousands killed or wounded.
Foreign teams from the United Arab Emirates, Britain, Qatar and Spain arrived in the area of Talat N’Yaaqoub, Al-Haouz province, within the Marrakech-Asfi region of central Morocco.
The foreign teams have significant experience in the field of search and rescue, including extracting bodies from under the rubble and have the specialist equipment and tools for the work.
Anika Koul, the leader of the Spanish rescue team, said, “We arrived at 5:00 a.m. yesterday (Sunday). The journey here was tiring because roads are difficult and have seen several landslides. We have coordinated with the Moroccan military and civil teams.”
She added that the situation is tough and local people are suffering very much as they have to sleep in the open after their houses were damaged in the earthquake, which measured seven on the Richter scale.
“I think we can offer help because the team has skilled personnel and all the up-to-date equipment as well as professionals, emergency doctors and trained dogs that we will also need in rescue operations. We are waiting to collaborate with the Moroccan teams.”
The Moroccan authorities expressed gratitude to all the countries that offered help following the disaster and stated they are regularly evaluating the progress of rescue operations.
The earthquake struck central Morocco on Friday night, killing more than 2,800 people and injuring more than 2,500 others so far.