In the Moroccan village of Amizmiz, death has come in the most cruel way.

An earthquake that struck with sudden violence, a wave of destruction and then, for some, an agonising wait for help.

We stop by a petrol station, where there is now a huge pile of rubble. Once this was a coffee shop, but you wouldn’t know it.

Behind is a space. Two days ago, there were two houses here. Now, there is almost nothing. Almost, but not quite.

‘Appalling’ situation as number killed set to rise – latest updates

What you see are thick lines of concrete, piled upon each other. These are floors, which have simply collapsed and now sit, like pancakes in a pile.

A woman here is sobbing, quietly. We talk to her, as gently as we can, and she wants to tell us what happened. Her name is Hafida and her brother, Miloud, lived in one of the houses.

Morocco earthquake: Rescuers battle to reach remote areas after 2,000 killed and 1,400 critically injured

Morocco earthquake: Chaos and pain as quake-hit areas face devastation

Morocco’s deadly earthquake – in pictures

He was the local police chief, and he lived here with his wife and their two children. The youngest child, a daughter, survived and is now in hospital in Marrakesh with a broken leg.

His wife and their son are still missing. Miloud’s body had been recovered already. He was killed by rubble that hit his head as he lay over his son, trying to shelter him.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Read more:
Chaos and pain as quake-hit areas face devastation
Epicentre high in Atlas Mountains

The reality, she knows, is that neither mother nor son will be found alive.

She tells us that initially you could hear his cries for help, but now they have gone quiet. She bursts into tears again.

It is an appalling tale, and it is being repeated across this region.

As we talk, a massive digger arrives to help lift the rubble. It is parked, then turned off. Nobody knows quite how to react except with profound, searing grief.

Related posts:

Winners and runners-up from the 10th National Geographic Traveller photography competition revealed ‘These last few days have been a living hell’: Fleeing the bombs, the shelling and the bloodshed Over 100 live animals found in women’s luggage Government extends Hong Kong visa route to young people born after China handover Icelandic volcano erupts near capital’s airport Death toll from Pakistan floods passes 1,200 as more rain forecast Hundreds evacuated as huge fire breaks out at shopping centre At least 22 killed as landslide tears through Venezuelan town Radioactive capsule missing in Australia after falling off mining truck Djokovic wins Australian Open a year after deportation – equals Nadal’s Grand Slam record Holocaust survivor becomes TikTok star aged 85 Thailand issues ‘don’t go out’ warning as heat index hits record 54C