A rescue team is reportedly just feet away from reaching a young boy who fell 104ft (32 meters) down a well five days ago.
As reported by BBC News, the rescue efforts of Moroccan authorities are being broadcast live, as the nation - and the world - awaits the conclusion of this heroic mission.
The child, named as five-year-old Rayan Oram by local media, fell into the narrow opening of the staggeringly deep well four days ago, and has been trapped ever since.
Thousands of civilians have reportedly gathered at the scene to witness the boy's rescue. Surrounding roads are said to be lined with vehicles, as rescuers are being cheered on by those that have congregated nearby.
Rescue efforts are being led by Morocco's Civil Protection Directorate in the small northern town of Tamorot, BBC News adds.
On Friday afternoon, one of the leaders of the operation revealed the rescue team is "almost there". The Daily Mail reports that the team are just "six feet" away.
Abdesalam Makoudi said: "We've been working non-stop for three days and tiredness is kicking in, but the whole rescue team is hanging on."
The mixture of rocky and sandy soils, combined with fears of a landslide, meant that workers feared opening the water well's narrow shaft.
Bulldozers were instead used to forge a large trench adjacent to the well. Once close enough, rescuers will begin digging horizontally in order to reach the trapped Rayan. Despite their best efforts, authorities are still concerned that any interference with the well could inadvertently cause harm to the child.
Speaking out about the horrifying incident, Rayan's father told local media: "In that one moment I took my eyes off him, the little one fell into the well. I haven't slept a wink."
The boy's mother added: "The whole family went out to look for him. Then we realized that he'd fallen down the well. I'm still keeping up hope that we'll get him out alive."
Rayan has been receiving food and water from rescuers up above, as well as an oxygen mask.
Reports say that a medical team is on standby for when the boy finally emerges, and a helicopter is at the scene in order to transfer him to a nearby hospital once he is freed.
Featured image credit: Murray Clarke / Alamy (Stock image of a water well in Morocco)
