A Closer Look: The impact of Morocco's earthquake


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In A Closer Look, The National provides an in-depth take on one of the main stories of the week

Thousands of people have died in Morocco after a strong earthquake struck near Marrakesh late on Friday night.

The death toll continues to climb as search-and-rescue teams comb through the rubble looking for survivors.

The disaster damaged entire towns as well as parts of the walls that surround Marrakesh’s old city, a Unesco World Heritage site built in the 12th century.

Host Sarah Forster speaks to The National's assistant foreign editor Hadya Al Alawi to find out more on the developing story.

Read more

King of Morocco visits earthquake patients as death toll passes 5,000

UAE women's basketball team tell of lucky escape from Morocco earthquake

Morrocan earthquake aftermath – in pictures

  • Rescue workers and civilians search among the rubble of destroyed houses in the Moroccan village of Imi N'Tala, near Amizmiz. AFP
    Rescue workers and civilians search among the rubble of destroyed houses in the Moroccan village of Imi N'Tala, near Amizmiz. AFP
  • A man consoles a grieving woman in Imi N'Tala, Morocco, after rescue workers recovered the bodies of her relatives from beneath rubble. AFP
    A man consoles a grieving woman in Imi N'Tala, Morocco, after rescue workers recovered the bodies of her relatives from beneath rubble. AFP
  • A Moroccan woman sits on the rubble of destroyed buildings in Imi N'Tala village after a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake. AFP
    A Moroccan woman sits on the rubble of destroyed buildings in Imi N'Tala village after a deadly 6.8-magnitude earthquake. AFP
  • A member of the civil defence searches for bodies in the rubble of a collapsed house in Azgour, Morocco. Getty Images
    A member of the civil defence searches for bodies in the rubble of a collapsed house in Azgour, Morocco. Getty Images
  • Houses destroyed by a deadly earthquake in the village of Arghen Valley, Morocco. Reuters
    Houses destroyed by a deadly earthquake in the village of Arghen Valley, Morocco. Reuters
  • The 12th-century Great Mosque of Tinmal, proposed for listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site, was badly damaged in the earthquake in Morocco. Reuters
    The 12th-century Great Mosque of Tinmal, proposed for listing as a Unesco World Heritage Site, was badly damaged in the earthquake in Morocco. Reuters
  • An injured boy is comforted by his father in front of his mother in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Talat N'Yaaqoub, Morocco. Reuters
    An injured boy is comforted by his father in front of his mother in the aftermath of a deadly earthquake in Talat N'Yaaqoub, Morocco. Reuters
  • King Mohammed VI of Morocco kisses an injured boy on the forehead while visiting earthquake survivors at a hospital in Marrakesh on Wednesday. Photo: MAP
    King Mohammed VI of Morocco kisses an injured boy on the forehead while visiting earthquake survivors at a hospital in Marrakesh on Wednesday. Photo: MAP
  • Football fans display a sign with a message of support for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco during a match between Morocco and Burkina Faso in Lens, France. AFP
    Football fans display a sign with a message of support for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco during a match between Morocco and Burkina Faso in Lens, France. AFP
  • A man carries a plate of food for people displaced by the earthquake in Azgour, Morocco. Getty Images
    A man carries a plate of food for people displaced by the earthquake in Azgour, Morocco. Getty Images
  • A surgeon and armed forces medics at the military field hospital for earthquake survivors in the village of Asni in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
    A surgeon and armed forces medics at the military field hospital for earthquake survivors in the village of Asni in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
  • Medics carry a patient on a stretcher at the military field hospital for earthquake survivors in the village of Asni in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
    Medics carry a patient on a stretcher at the military field hospital for earthquake survivors in the village of Asni in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
  • Earthquake survivors queue to receive aid packages in the town of Amizmiz in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
    Earthquake survivors queue to receive aid packages in the town of Amizmiz in Morocco's Al Haouz province. AFP
Brief scoreline:

Toss: South Africa, elected to bowl first

England (311-8): Stokes 89, Morgan 57, Roy 54, Root 51; Ngidi 3-66

South Africa (207): De Kock 68, Van der Dussen 50; Archer 3-27, Stokes 2-12

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Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?

The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.

The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.

He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.

He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.

He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.

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Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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Updated: March 06, 2024, 7:54 AM
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