More than 600 killed in Morocco quake: revised toll

AL HOCEIMA, Morocco (AFP) Mar 04, 2004
The powerful earthquake that rocked north Morocco last week claimed 628 lives and injured 926 people, according to a new toll issued Thursday by an aid committee in the quake zone's main city.

The new figures, calculated by the Al Hoceima Regional Support Committee, mark a significant increase from the previous toll of 572 dead and more than doubles the number of injured from an earlier figure of 406.

No explanation has been given for the sharp rise in the numbers of dead and injured in the 6.3 magnitude quake that rocked the Rif Mountains region on February 24, but the official MAP news agency said the new toll was final.

The Al Hoceima support committee also said that more than 15,000 people were left homeless by the quake and that 2,539 homes were reduced to rubble, the large majority of them -- nearly 2,500 -- in rural areas, where they were mainly built in mud brick.

According to the support committee, 18,760 tents have been distributed in the region, along with 168,870 blankets, 1,561 tonnes of food, 106 tonnes of medicine and 48 tonnes of clothing.

Aid distribution was still continuing, the committee said.

TERRA.WIRE