‘We dug with our bare hands’ – Neighbours battle to save friends after Morocco earthquake

Remarkable stories of bravery have emerged from the ruins of remote villages devastated by the Morocco earthquake.

Yesterday it was announced at least 2,122 people have been killed, with more than 2,059 others injured, many of them critically, in Friday’s quake.

The United Nations has estimated that some 300,000 people were affected overall.

There are fears that in one small town alone, called Amizmiz, hundreds of residents have died.

But as a massive clear-up operation swings into action, inspiring locals have told of their attempts to save families and neighbours.

Large parts of Moulay Brahim, a remote village in the Atlas Mountains, were reduced to rubble in just seconds when the devastating 6.8-magnitude quake struck.

IT programmer Abdelmajid Idfrrazen told how he ran from his house as the walls started to crumble – and then he had to dig his 70-year-old neighbour out of the rubble with his bare hands.

He said: “I was going to sleep when we felt the first shock. It was after 11pm and it lasted about three seconds. Then there was another, about 13 seconds. It was very short, but it was terrifying. We all ran to try and get outside. Bricks and rubble were falling. Now all the homes here are irreparable. Many people died.”

After checking his parents and uncle were safe, Abdelmajid, 36, stumbled across the elderly ­neighbour trapped under his ­collapsed walls.

He added: “His breath was very short, he had one hand sticking out. We were grabbing things with our hands or any tool we could find. It was late at night and dark, but we kept digging for three hours. We got him out but he was badly hurt. He was taken away in a vehicle and then a helicopter took him to hospital in Marrakech. We hope he is ok.”

Abdelmajid revealed the damage caused to the homes of families and friends. He said: “Over 90 percent of the village is gone, people can’t live in their houses anymore. They are dangerous. We still have electricity, but no water and we are worried about aftershocks. It will take years and years to repair. Houses will have to be demolished and rebuilt, but how can we do this?”

Many families in the village, which has a population of less than 3,000, have now built temporary shelters in the square – traditionally used for joyous occasions like weddings – as they fear their homes may collapse.

Yesterday, eight-year-old Niama was leading her shell-shocked elderly grandmother Hadod to safety through the rubble towards the square. In broken English, she said: “Everything was shaking, people are hurt.”

Oussama Amsetag, 23, and Hassan Azaz, 25, who were helping their families build the makeshift shanty town, told how they had lost three friends in the quake.

Hassan said: “I was at home and everything was shaking. There was great danger. The walls were coming down. I know three friends who died, some of them teenagers. “Now the village is trying to help themselves. People are bringing food and milk to help us.”

A double funeral was taking place in the village in the shadow of the mosque, just 36 hours after the devastating quake. According to Islamic custom, burials should take place quickly after death.

A group of around 40 men gathered in the cemetery as the bodies, wrapped in sheets, were carried to the freshly dug graves. Prayers were read as the two people, believed to be from the same family, were buried. At the top of the hill female ­relatives were hysterically crying, with one woman carried away by loved ones after collapsing.

The region was hit by a smaller 3.9 aftershock on Sunday which left many shaken. In the village of Asni, a few miles down the mountain from Moulay Brahim, large crowds gathered desperate for shelter and supplies.

As trucks carrying aid passed through, they were swarmed by young men who grasped all they could to help their families.

Mbark Idqbude told how he grabbed his three young boys – aged 15, nine and three – when he felt the earth start shaking and ran into the street. He said: “My house is destroyed, everywhere is destroyed. The ground shook again this morning. I got my 90-year-old mother to safety. She is staying with friends, she can’t stay here.”

The family is now living in one of dozens of makeshift blue shelters, made from a plastic tarpaulin, on waste land in the village. Jewellery seller Mbark, 55, said: “We will be here for six months, maybe longer.

“The earthquake was far worse up the mountain, 60 kilometres away. Hundreds and hundreds killed. All those families will come looking for somewhere to live. It is chaotic, we need more tents and supplies. If it snows here in the winter, it will be terrible.”

Friday’s quake, Morocco’s strongest ever recorded, struck 45 miles south-west of Marrakech, wiping out entire villages in rural areas.

Other towns devastated include Tikht, near Adassil, and Tafeghaghte, 37 miles south-west of Marrakech. Morocco has declared three days of mourning, during which the national flag will be flown at half mast. About 100 UN teams made up of 3,500 rescuers from around the world are ready to be deployed to Morocco when asked.

Medical aid charity UK-Med is due to be part of a specialist team of workers heading to the country today. Spokesman David Wight­wick said: “We will look at how we can bring healthcare there.

“We are also in negotiations with the local ministry of health, hospitals and local communities.”