The death toll from the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck the High Atlas mountains on Friday night has risen to 2,901, while the number of injured has more than doubled to 5,530, state television reported.

Many survivors of the Moroccan earthquake struggled in makeshift shelters on Tuesday after a fourth night in the open, while villagers in the devastated mountain areas expressed their frustration at not having received any help from the authorities.

Since the earthquake, many residents have had no power or telephone reception and have had to rescue their loved ones and remove the bodies buried under their crushed houses without any assistance.

It was the deadliest earthquake in the North African country since 1960 and the strongest in more than a century.

The situation is most desperate for people in remote areas isolated by landslides caused by the earthquake that have blocked access roads, while in accessible places aid efforts are being stepped up with tent camps and the distribution of food and water.

Rescue teams from Spain, Great Britain and Qatar are helping the Moroccan search teams, while Italy, Belgium, France and Germany said that their proposals for assistance had not yet been approved.