Grief & hope in the ruins

Heroes help free victims from rubble as 2,122 die

- PHIL CARDY

STORIES of bravery and hope are emerging from the ruins of remote mountain villages devastated by the Moroccan earthquake.

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

The United Nations estimated that 300,000 people were affected and there are fears that in one small town alone, Amizmiz, more than 2,000 have died.

But as a clear-up operation swings into action, inspiring locals told how they braved fears of aftershocks and further collapses to save their friends, families and neighbours.

TERRIFYING

Large parts of Moulay Brahin, a remote village carved into the Atlas mountains 45 miles south west from the city of Marrakesh, were reduced to rubble in seconds.

As we walked through it, the true extent of the destruction caused by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake became clear.

Family homes reduced to ruins, streets strewn with rubble and survivors doing all they could to keep themselves and the children safe.

IT programmer Abdelmajid Idfrrazen told how he ran from his house as the walls started to crumble - and then dug his 70-year-old neighbour out 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.