International News
Morocco Quake Death Toll Rises To 2,122
Using heavy equipment and even their bare hands, rescuers in Morocco on Sunday stepped up efforts to find survivors of a devastating earthquake that killed more than 2,100 people and flattened villages.
The first foreign rescuers flew in to help after the North African country’s strongest-ever quake killed at least 2,122 people and injured more than 2,400, many seriously, according to official figures updated late on Sunday.
Friday’s 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the tourist hub of Marrakesh, wiping out entire villages in the hills of the Atlas mountains.
On Sunday an aftershock of magnitude 4.5 rattled already-traumatised residents in the same region.
The mountain village of Tafeghaghte, 60 kilometres from Marrakesh, was almost entirely destroyed, an AFP team reported, with very few buildings still standing.
Amid the debris, civilian rescuers and members of Morocco’s armed forces searched for survivors and the bodies of the dead.
AFP saw them recover one body from the ruins of a house. Four others were still buried there, residents said.
“Everyone is gone! My heart is broken. I am inconsolable,” cried Zahra Benbrik, 62, who said she had lost 18 relatives, with only the body of her brother still trapped.
“I want them to hurry and get him out so I can mourn in peace,” she said.
Many houses in remote mountain villages were built from mud bricks.
In the village of Amizmiz, near Tafeghaghte, a backhoe dragged away the heaviest pieces of rubble before rescuers dug into the dusty debris with their bare hands to remove a body that appeared to be under a quilt.
– The crucial hours –
The two villages lie in Al-Haouz province, site of the epicentre, which suffered the most deaths, 1,351, authorities reported.
According to Moroccan public television, “more than 18,000 families have been affected” by the quake in Al-Haouz.
Citizens on Sunday rushed to hospitals in Marrakesh to donate blood to help the injured.
Spain’s defence ministry said an A400 airlifter took off from Zaragoza with 56 rescuers and four search dogs headed for Marrakesh to “help in the search and rescue of survivors”.
“We will send whatever is needed because everyone knows that these first hours are key, especially if there are people buried under rubble,” Defence Minister Margarita Robles told Spanish public television.
Many residents of the usually bustling tourist hotspot of Marrakesh spent a second night sleeping on the streets, huddled together under blankets and among bags filled with their belongings.
One of them, Fatema Satir, said many stayed outside for fear of their houses collapsing.
“There is no help for us,” Satir said. “Our houses have been cracked, others destroyed — like my daughter’s house which was wiped out. We are in a chaotic state.”
In the city’s historic Jemaa el-Fna square, about 20 people were huddled on the ground, wrapped in blankets, while others stayed on the lawn of the nearby town hall, its 12th-century ramparts partially collapsed.
The kingdom declared three days of national mourning, and a prayer for the quake victims was to be held Sunday in all of the kingdom’s mosques.
Morocco’s interior ministry said on Saturday evening that authorities are “mobilised to speed up rescue operations and evacuate the injured.”
In addition to Spain, several countries offered aid.
French President Emmanuel Macron said his country has mobilised “all technical and security teams to be able to intervene, when the Moroccan authorities deem it useful.”
Macron, along with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the heads of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, African Union and European Commission, also pledged, in a joint statement, to “mobilise our technical and financial tools and assistance” to help the people of Morocco.
– Long recovery ahead –
The United States said it also had search-and-rescue teams ready to deploy, and Pope Francis on Sunday again expressed support for those affected by the disaster.
“I thank the rescuers and all those who are working to alleviate the suffering of the people,” he said from the Vatican window above St Peter’s Square.
Algeria, which has long had tense relations with neighbouring Morocco, opened its airspace, which had been closed for two years, to flights carrying humanitarian aid and evacuating the injured.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country in 2020 established ties with Morocco, offered to send search-and-rescue teams, declaring that “Israel stands by Morocco in its difficult time”.
The Red Cross warned that it could take years to repair the damage.
“It won’t be a matter of a week or two… We are counting on a response that will take months, if not years,” said Hossam Elsharkawi, its Middle East and North Africa director.
The quake was the deadliest in Morocco since a 1960 earthquake destroyed Agadir and killed more than 12,000 people.
AFP
Man City are considering taking legal action after a Real Madrid presedential candidate said he would sign Erling Haaland, if elected.
What actually happened?
Real presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, who faces current president Florentino Perez in Sunday’s vote, claimed on Spanish TV show El Hormiguero on Wednesday night that Haaland had a release clause and wants to move to the Bernabeu. He also held up a Real shirt with ‘Haaland 9’ on the back.
Riquelme, who also promised to sign Haaland’s City team-mate Rodri, said: “If I break my promises regarding either of these players, I’ve signed a guarantee where I’d pay 100 per cent of membership costs for next season.
“Haaland has a release clause, and he wants to come to Madrid.”
What was City’s response?
However, Manchester City have moved quickly to refute those claims, saying in a statement that there is “no chance” Haaland will be leaving the Etihad Stadium any time soon. The Premier League club also said they are considering legal action over the shirt stunt.
A City spokesperson said in a statement: “The stories which have emerged from Spain regarding the future of Erling Haaland are untrue.
“There is no chance of this happening and there is no contractual clause to enable it.
“We are considering legal action for the use of our player image in this context.”
Haaland is under contract at the Etihad until the summer of 2034 and Haaland’s agent Rafaela Pimenta and his father Alfie Haaland laughed off suggestions the 25-year-old could soon be heading to the Spanish capital.
A joint-statement released in the early hours of Thursday morning said: “All very entertaining but not true. We wish all the best for both candidates in the Real Madrid elections.”
What was Perez’s response?
Meanwhile, current Real president Florentino Perez made his own election pledge on Wednesday night, seemingly confirming Jose Mourinho’s return to Real Madrid as manager, if he wins next Sunday’s presidential election.
Perez posted a video on X in which Mourinho features in a Real shirt saying: “Yes”, while the only other words to accompany it say: “Meanwhile, on TV, they just keep talking and talking and talking. So much history to be made.”
The video was posted in response to Riquelme’s TV apperaance promoting his rival bid.
Perez has made no secret of his intention to name Mourinho as head coach should he win the vote and remain for an eighth term in the role, but his social media post appears to have made it official.
Mourinho is widely expected to agree a three-year-deal to return to the Bernabeu Stadium and replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Benfica have yet to confirm Mourinho’s departure, while speculation has been mounting that Marco Silva is being lined up as his successor after the Portuguese announced he will leave Fulham when his contract expires in June.
Real Madrid’s presidential election on Sunday will be decided by the club’s members. It is the first contested election since 2006 as club members will choose between incumbent Perez, 79, and businessman Riquelme, 37.
According to an official statement from Liverpool, Liverpool legend Sir Kenny Dalglish has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing treatment.
Sir Kenny Dalglish posted an update on social media today. The full text is as follows:
The news was leaked when I accidentally posted something due to a slip of the hand. I am currently receiving treatment for cancer. Although I am clumsy with my phone, the treatment is progressing well.
This matter was intended to be handled privately and not disclosed to the public, but I am not very good at using digital devices and accidentally leaked the news.
I never intended to make my illness public, and I urge all parties to respect my privacy and that of my family, and to refrain from disturbing us.
As always, I thank the medical staff, who not only took meticulous care of me but also consistently upheld the principle of confidentiality, diligently protected countless patients, and honored their profession.”
Liverpool officials stated: All staff at Liverpool Football Club will send their best wishes and support to Sir Kenny Dalglish and his family, now and in the future. The club also echoed his request, calling on the outside world to respect his privacy.
Adam Wharton says he has been able to quickly move on from his England World Cup squad omission.
The talented midfielder was one of the surprise names left out of Thomas Tuchel’s squad this summer. And he underlined his quality with a player-of-the-match performance in Crystal Palace’s Conference League final win over Rayo Vallecano.
Wharton said: “It’s just part of football. It was never a guarantee I was going to go, I knew that.
“When he called me, he told me I wasn’t there. He said it was close. But that’s football. I’m not going to sit here and cry about it. I still had two games for Palace to go – tonight being a massive one.
“I don’t really dwell on those things too much. It’s not the end of the world. I’m still young. Hopefully there are other tournaments and World Cups I can go to in the future.
“I was just focused on Palace and coming here and getting the win.”
Tuchel caused a stir with his 26-strong squad last week, with no room for Harry Maguire, Phil Foden, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Cole Palmer and Morgan Gibbs-White.
But former goal keeper, Joe Hart pointed out that will all become irrelevant when England start their campaign, even if Hart is enthusiastic about Tuchel’s managerial CV, which includes winning the Champions League with Chelsea.
“It’s one of those roles where whatever he’s done (up to now) doesn’t really matter,” Hart told the Press Association.
“He’s clear what he wants and how he wants people to behave in his squads. He’s an experienced coach, he looks like he’s enjoying his role and the players are buying into what he’s asking them to do.
“But will it be all right on the night? That’s how he will be judged. But of course he knows that – he’s an experienced man, he’s a winner and hopefully he can do it again.”
Meanwhile, England have confirmed Arsenal forward Ethan Nwaneri will join up with Thomas Tuchel’s squad for a preparation camp ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Nwaneri, who is currently on loan at Marseille, will join Bournemouth playmaker Alex Scott, Fulham’s Josh King and Liverpool’s 17-year-old prospect Rio Ngumoha as training players.
Brighton goalkeeper Jason Steele will remain with the squad as a training goalkeeper throughout the tournament.
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