Rescuers who are desperately trying to reach a five-year-old boy who fell into a well in northern Morocco four days ago say they are "almost there".
Moroccan authorities and firefighters work to get five-year-old child Rayan out of a well. Photo: AFP
The boy, named by local media as Rayan, was reportedly playing near the well in the town of Tamorot, 100km from Chefchaouen on Tuesday.
He is believed to have fallen about 32m through a narrow opening.
After days of digging there are just three metres to go, but there is the risk of a landslide.
So as a precaution, a "parallel shaft" is being dug next to the well to reach Rayan which is so far proving successful, says Moroccan government spokesman Mustapha Baitas.
"We're almost there," said one of the operation's leaders Abdesalam Makoudi on Friday afternoon (local time). "We've been working non-stop for three days and tiredness is kicking in, but the whole rescue team is hanging on."
Rescue operations, led by Morocco's Civil Protection Directorate, have been ongoing since Tuesday evening, even using floodlights to work through the night.
'I haven't slept a wink'
Rayan's father was repairing the well at the time of the accident, and has said he and Rayan's mother are "devastated and very worried".
"In that one moment I took my eyes off him, the little one fell into the well. I haven't slept a wink", he told news site le360 on Wednesday.
Speaking to Moroccan media with tears in her eyes, Rayan's mother said "the whole family went out to look for him. Then we realised that he'd fallen down the well. I'm still keeping up hope that we'll get him out alive."
Despite suffering a significant fall, footage on Thursday from a camera lowered into the well showed that the boy was alive and conscious, though he appeared to be suffering from some minor head injuries.
Rescue workers have lowered an oxygen mask, food and water into the well and a medical team is also on site, ready to treat the boy. A helicopter has also arrived at the scene to take him to hospital once he has been extracted from the well.
Thousands of people have been watching footage of the rescue on social media, and a large group of onlookers has gathered at the scene.
Algerian football star Riyad Mahrez has also posted a message of support, urging Rayan to "stay strong".
- BBC