Damage to cultural heritage in Morocco after earthquake was greater than expected

UNESCO’s Regional Director for the Maghreb said this Monday that Friday’s earthquake in Morocco caused “more damage than expected”, especially in Marrakech, after visiting the affected areas.

“We can say that the damage is much greater than expected. We noticed significant cracks on the minaret [mesquita] Koutoubia, the most symbolic structure, but also the almost complete destruction of the Harbouh minaret” in Jamaa el-Fna square in Marrakech, said Eric Falt, regional director of the UNESCO Maghreb office, as quoted by Agence France. Press.

The earthquake’s epicenter was in the Atlas Mountains, just over 60 kilometers from the country’s fourth city, home to several monuments and sites listed as World Heritage Sites by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Medina, an old city classified since 1985, where the 12th-century Koutoubia minaret is in danger of collapse, as well as the 11th-century Kharbukh minaret, which collapsed.

Several sections of the city’s historic walls were also damaged, as well as the old Jewish quarter of Mellah, one of the worst damaged areas, with houses completely destroyed.

“After such a catastrophe, the most important thing is to save human lives,” the head of UNESCO said, as quoted by the online publication Morocco World News, adding that “it is also necessary to immediately plan the second stage.” which will include the reconstruction of schools and cultural assets damaged by the earthquake.”

For the UNESCO chief, destroying Marrakech’s heritage will be a “long-term” task that will require enormous efforts to restore and preserve it.

On Saturday, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay had already expressed solidarity with the “Government of Morocco and its people”, stressing the “importance of understanding” the scale of the disaster in order to act.

This Monday, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) also expressed solidarity with the people of Morocco, saying that it will continue to “monitor the situation through the country’s network” and “take the necessary measures to support the efforts of the Moroccan people.” “in reconstruction.

This non-governmental organization dedicated to the preservation of architectural heritage, in its statement, listed the places already destroyed, especially in the Marrakech Medina, remembering that “human lives are a priority after a disaster of this magnitude.”

However, he warned of the redevelopment as “the second major step in the community rebuilding process,” as stated in his statement.

According to the latest data, more than 2,800 people were killed and more than 2,500 were injured as a result of the earthquake that occurred in Morocco on Friday evening.

The earthquake, whose epicenter was recorded in the city of Isis, 63 kilometers southwest of the city of Marrakech, was felt in Portugal and Spain, reaching a magnitude of 7.0 on the Richter scale, according to the National Institute of Geophysics of Marrakech. .