Death toll from Morocco earthquake surpasses 2,600

A man walks among the rubble of a destroyed building after a massive earthquake in Tahannaout, Morocco, on Sept. 9, 2023. (Photo by Saouri Aissa/Xinhua)

AMIZMIZ, Morocco, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the devastating earthquake in Morocco has risen to 2,681, and the injuries to 2,501, according to the latest statement released by the Moroccan government on Monday.

The rescue teams dispatched by Spain and Britain have arrived in the village of Amizmiz near the epicenter. Helicopters are seen shuttling back and forth between the tremor-hit old city of Marrakesh and other quake-affected areas.

Rescuers transfer an injured near the epicenter of a massive earthquake in Azrou, Morocco, on Sept. 10, 2023. (Photo by Saouri Aissa/Xinhua)

Rescue and relief efforts are also continuing to access the hardest-hit mountainous regions.

There is still a shortage in the supply of gasoline and covers, as observed by Xinhua reporters.

A man grieves in front of his house near the epicenter of an earthquake in Amizmiz, Morocco, Sept. 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Huo Jing)

The 6.8-magnitude earthquake hit the North African country at 11:11 p.m. local time (2211 GMT) on Friday at a depth of 18.5 km, said the United States Geological Survey.