A 5-year-old boy has been trapped at the bottom of a 100ft well for more than 48 hours after he fell into the shaft located outside his home.
According to Morocco’s official MAP news agency, rescuers first used five bulldozers to dig a hole over 31meters, hoping to break through into where Rayan is.
But the diameter of the well narrows as it descends, preventing rescuers from going down to take him up.
On Friday, they excavated a horizontal tunnel to reach the child as experts in topographical engineering were contacted for assistance.
Speaking to local television 2M, rescue committee member Abdelhadi Temrani said: “Digging has stopped momentarily out of concern that the ground surrounding the well could collapse.”
The rescue team used a rope to provide water and oxygen to Ryan but they couldn’t reach him through the hole where he got trapped because of its small diameter.
His mother Wassima Kharchich told 2M: “I pray and beg God that he comes out of that well alive and safe. Please God, ease my pain and his, in that hole of dust.”
Medical staff are on site to attend to the child once the rescue mission is over, with a helicopter also waiting to take him to the closest hospital.
According to authorities, there’s less than 20ft of earth left to dig but they fear that the well could cave in before they reach Rayan.
Government spokesman Mustapha Baitas said last night: “The child’s rescue is approaching. Our hearts are with the family, and we are praying that he will be back with them as soon as possible.”
Speaking to Le360, Rayan’s father said that he had been working on the well when his son fell into it.
The incident has sparked an outpouring of sympathy on social media, with one person writing on Twitter: “The heart of every Moroccan is with this angel.”
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