Displaced Al Haouz quake victim, 26, killed by rockslide while sleeping in tent

A tragic incident struck the community of displaced Al Haouz quake victims this weekend, as a 26-year-old man lost his life on Saturday while sleeping in a tent with a friend. 

The victim, who had already lost his home due to the quake, was fatally crushed by a rock as it rolled over him from a nearby mountain, after extreme weather conditions. 

The young man was one of the many affected by the quake who now find themselves living in temporary tents after their homes collapsed back in September. 

This incident occurred when a large rock dislodged from the mountain and rolled onto their tent in the Tlat N’Yaakoub commune of the Al Haouz province.

The dire circumstances faced by these individuals, who have been forced to resort to living in tents following the destruction of their homes, raises questions about the ongoing dire circumstances and risks they face in their daily lives.

The recent heavy winds and rain showers have only exacerbated the already difficult situation for the victims of the Al Haouz quake, leaving visible damage in some regions and adding to the challenges they face as they try to rebuild their lives amidst such adversity.

In an interview with Hespress EN, Najia Ait Mhend, the regional coordinator for The Civil Coalition for the Mountain, said that the victims of the quake have been living in dismal conditions ever since September the 8th with constant fear of the powerful winds and heavy rains. 

“The circumstances endured by the quake survivors remain dire. water infiltrated the tents, and some were swept away by the wind, leaving them with no refuge,” Ait Mhend explained. 

As the weather worsens, the tents become more and more fragile. 

Ait Mhend explained that while setting up tents is only a temporary solution, it was considered after the earthquake, and it is not suitable for long-term living.

The interviewee noted that the conditions are indeed challenging, “with tents being uprooted due to the strong winter weather. There are also villages threatened by falling rocks, which could lead to further disasters.”

Indeed, Ait Mhend revealed that during rainy nights, the inhabitants of the affected villages could hear falling rocks and debris jeopardizing their fragile tents. 

“This is not the first time we experience threatening falling rocks. The victims have been living in perpetual dread of losing their lives to rocks and debris after they have made it miraculously alive out of the quake,” said Ait Mhend. 

The coordinator further explained that the victims have time and again protested against their precarious living conditions, but the situation has persisted.

The distribution of mobile homes is still facing some hurdles, according to Ait Mhend, and not all villages have received them, which has led to difficulties during the rainy season.

The coordinator urged swift action to resolve the victims’ plight to prevent further disasters, especially considering the adverse impact of both the weather and the earthquake on their lives.