Rescue teams from Spain, Britain and Qatar began supporting Moroccan rescuers in areas affected by the powerful earthquake that struck the North African country, Moroccan news agency MAP reported on Monday.

Britain sent 60 search and rescue experts, equipment, and four search dogs to support the Moroccan-led operations, British Ambassador Simon Martin said in a post published early Monday.

Mr Martin stated this on the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

Morocco on Sunday said it responded to support offers made by Spain, Qatar, Britain and the UAE, which had proposed mobilising a group of research and rescue teams.

Rabat said it could later accept support offers made by other countries.

Some 2,122 people have been killed since the 6.8-magnitude quake rattled several parts of the country on Friday.

This triggered rock slides, blocking roads and making it hard for rescue teams to reach the large, affected mountainous areas.

Rescuers have been racing against time, searching for potential survivors in a challenging mission.

Witnesses said until Sunday, some affected areas were still isolated because roads were blocked by landslides.

Some survivors said the smell of bodies was beginning to come out from under the rubble. 

(dpa/NAN)