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Rabat – Marrakech welcomes over a million tourists every year. Indeed, the red city boasts some of Morocco’s most famous and sought-after tourist attractions, including the Koutoubia mosque, Jemaa El Fna square, and El Manara.
Marrakech is also known for constantly hosting significant international meetings, with the annual World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings being set to be held in the city on October 9-15.
The tremor
On September 8, a magnitude 6.8 earthquake shook central Morocco a few minutes after 11:00 p.m. The strongest to hit the country in more than a century, the earthquake has killed over 2,900, injured more than 5,500, and left thousands homeless.
Most regions of the country were affected, and that same evening people rushed to offer humanitarian aid as a gesture of solidarity to those living in towns near the epicenter, namely Amizmiz, Ighil, Tajghichte, and Asni.
Several national and international associations also participated in this outpouring of solidarity, contributing with supplies such as food and blankets, but most importantly, shelter to protect the earthquake victims from the coming harsh autumn weather.
Ongoing tourist activities despite the tremor
Marrakech is still bustling
Considering the impact such events can have on tourism, Marrakech has remarkably managed to continue functioning almost as if the tragic quake never happened.
Tourists continue to arrive from all corners of the globe, eager to indulge in Marrakech’s various activities and adventures. On the other hand, the Jemaa El Fna square also still enjoys its usual lively atmosphere, with its traditional storytellers, snake charmers, and illuminated scenes at night, which clearly show how stable Marrakech is in terms of tourism.
The nightly hustle and bustle of Marrakech
According to the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT), the recent earthquake has not had a negative impact on Morocco’s tourism industry.
Material loss
Inside the city, the earthquake affected several structures to varying degrees. The famous Koutoubia mosque is now surrounded by blockades set by the authorities to prevent access to tourists, as the earthquake caused some cracks inside the monument.
Two other mosques on Jemaa El Fna were affected, one of which lost parts of its minaret and the other, the Kharbouch mosque, was completely demolished.
Other damage caused by the quake include cracks in some streets and the partial collapse of some city walls.
The red city still resilient in the face of the earthquake
A need for renovation
The vast number of houses, schools, and mosques having been destroyed in the towns on the outskirts of Marrakech will have to be rebuilt, as their inhabitants are now housed in military camps set up by the local authorities in coordination with the Royal Armed Forces.
However, the renovations can’t take place immediately after the earthquake: locals have said that officials need to take some statistics as a first step, which could take some time.
Read also: Marrakech Unscathed, Unbowed: A Symbol of Hope in Troubled Times
