2.8 million people affected by Morocco earthquake, minister says
Morocco's earthquake has damaged 2,930 villages nestled in the High Atlas mountains, home to a total population of 2.8 million people.
This was revealed on Friday by the minister in charge of the budget.
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on Sept. 8 has tragically claimed the lives of over 2,900 individuals, most of them in remote mountainous regions.
At least 59,674 houses were damaged, of which 32% have totally collapsed, the minister, Faouzi Lekjaa, said in a presentation at parliament.
The government plans to provide 2,500 dirhams ($244) monthly over a year in aid to quake-stricken households, in addition to 140,000 dirhams compensation paid for totally destroyed homes and 80,000 for partially damaged ones, he said. Lekjaa explained that the reconstruction efforts should respect the original architectural character of the High Atlas mountains, Reuters reported.
This earthquake, the deadliest in Morocco since 1960, devastated numerous hamlets with traditional mud brick, stone and rough wood houses which are unique to the Amazigh-speaking Atlas mountains.
