Search for Morocco Survivors

The earthquake struck late Friday night southwest of Marrakech. As of Monday, both domestic and international aid teams are still searching for survivors and working to reach remote areas in the mountains. Doctors Without Borders, also known as Médecins Sans Frontières, noted that the areas currently requiring urgent assistance are also "the most difficult to reach."

“We expect most of the uncovered needs to be in the mountainous areas in the High Atlas,” the group wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “These areas are also the most difficult to reach as roads have also been affected by the earthquake.”

Some of the country's least affluent areas have suffered the brunt of the damage. The seismic activity caused aged buildings to collapse much quicker than modern infrastructure, according to NBC, which reported from the mountain town of Moulay Brahim that homes, a mosque, and a local marketplace were left in ruins. Large boulders in the rubble have complicated recovery efforts, spurring rescuers and locals to dig by hand as they search for survivors.

The Royal Moroccan Armed Forces said in a statement on X that 2,497 people have died 5 a.m. EST Monday, with 2,476 injured, 1,400 of those in critical condition. The army said it was taking "emergency humanitarian aid" to people living near the epicenter in the High Atlas Mountains, where roads have been cut off because of repeated landslides.

United States President Joe Biden expressed his condolences in a statement, where he shared that his administration is prepared to provide “any necessary assistance" to the country.