A stampede in a southern Moroccan village left at least 15 people dead and five others injured Sunday as food aid was being distributed, the Interior Ministry said.
The crush took place in Sidi Boulalam, in the province of Essaouira, as a local association was distributing food aid in a local weekly "souk", or market, the Ministry said in a statement.
King Mohammed VI has given instructions that "all measures be taken to help the victims and their families," the Ministry said.
The king will pay for the hospitalisation of the wounded and the burials of the dead, according to the statement.Alyaoum24.Com, a local and reliable news website, reported that people were rushing for food aid. whose value was about USD 16 per person.