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Workers continue to search the ruins of a large earthquake that hit Morocco Friday. Officials say almost 2,500 were killed in the quake, but that they expect that number will rise. The United Nations said the magnitude 

6.8 earthquake affected 300,000 people. The damage was great because the starting point of the shaking was not far below the ground.

It is the strongest quake to hit the North African nation since 

1900. And, it is reported to be the country's deadliest since 1960, when at least 12,000 people were killed in and near the city of Agadir.

So far, Morocco has accepted support from four countries — Spain, Qatar, Great Britain and the United Arab Emirates. Other nations have offered help as well. Groups from the Moroccan army left Monday from Amizmiz to move into the small mountain villages. Heavy equipment was sent to clear the roads and both visitors and local people lined up to give blood.

Many people continued to sleep outside, fearing smaller earthquakes that often follow a major one. In the village of Imgdal, women and children gathered outside and some kept warm around an open fire on Monday morning.

On a road near the town of Adassil, near the epicenter (震中), one rescue worker, Ayman Koait, was trying to clear the rocks that were restraining trucks from getting by. He said other roads were in bad shape. "We're trying to open them, too," said Ayman Koait.

People said they dug through the ruins of their homes looking for relatives They also moved rocks and walls looking for important items.

Many of the homes are made from wood, rock and mud, which made them fall easily when the ground started shaking. One military (军方的) worker said "it is difficult to pull people out alive" because the walls turned into ruins and did not leave any space for air.