When I first went to Morocco in the early 80s I stayed in Agadir, which was a completely new town after the original was detroyed in an earthquake in the 60s (IIRC). I hated Agadir, but that drove me to spend my time travelling the country - and I truly loved it.
One place I visited was Marrakech. Then it was a vibrant city, still on the hippie trail and without the package holidays of today. Walking in the Djemaa el-Fna was an experience.... snake charmers, chain dancers and all the things from the movies - and, at that time, real rather than tourist fare.Overlooking the square was the 69 metre hig minaret of the Koutoubia mosque (which I knew from the "American-style" cigarettes I was smoking) - not the classical "minaret" but a tower built in the C12th.
Today we have news of a 6.8 magnitude earthquake which has (so far) killed 632 people and injured 329 and caused extensive damage in Marrakech.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world-africa-66760889
So you can imagine my dismay, when searching for news, to find this
Morocco Earthquake Live Updates: A view shows damage at an old mosque in the historic city of Marrakech, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. (Reuters)
No specific mention of the Koutoubia, but there are reports that it was severely damaged, along with other ancient monuments like the city walls.
There is also mention that the majority of the dead are in towns in the mountain area - Marrakech sits at the foot of the Atlas mountain range - which ahs made access very difficult.
These disasters happen, but when the touch somewhere you have been and that is alive in your memory, it comes as a shock. I hope the number of dead and injured does not continue to climb and that Morocco gets international assistance to help those displaced and to clear up the damage.
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