Moroccan villagers mourn after earthquake destroys homes

The ground shook with a force few had ever felt, rumbling through a remote Moroccan village in the dark of night.

When the earthquake ended late Friday, the town deep in the Atlas Mountains lay in ruins, with dozens feared dead and scores of homes and walls reduced to rubble.

The pain of the people of the village destroyed by the earthquake in Morocco picture 1 — People gather to bury victims killed by an earthquake, in the village of Ouargane, near Marrakech, Morocco on September 9, 2023. Photo: AP

People in the poor rural community about 45 kilometers northeast of the epicenter of the quake live in homes made of clay bricks and wood, many of which are no longer standing or are no longer safe to live in. Walls collapsed, exposing the interiors of damaged homes, their rubble sliding down the hill.

Chaos and terror ensued as terrified villagers ran for safety in the streets. Some used their bare hands to clear debris and began pulling bodies out one by one. People gathered and cried outside a community health center as news of more deaths came in.

Search teams have been peering into crevices for more casualties or people needing rescue after the biggest earthquake to hit the North African country in 120 years.

The majority of the dead, at least 2,100 as of Sunday, were in Marrakech and five provinces near the epicenter, with at least 2,059 others injured, including 1,404 in critical condition, the country's interior ministry said.

Hours after the tragedy, a procession of hundreds of people carried more than a dozen blanket-covered bodies to the town square. Men knelt on the carpets and prayed for the dead in a brief funeral before carrying the deceased to the hillside cemetery. According to Muslim custom, burials must take place quickly after death.

Heartbroken parents sobbed into the phone to tell loved ones about the loss of their children. Villagers set up a large tent in the square, traditionally used for joyous occasions like weddings. In the coming days, the space will serve as a much bleaker shelter for those left homeless.

Much of the town's economy depends on agriculture and tourism, and time will tell how soon visitors will return to a place that has stood for centuries.

Moulay Brahim is named after a Moroccan Sufi saint who practiced a form of Islam that values peace, love and tolerance, with an emphasis on inner meditation to achieve connection with God. The town's residents speak a combination of Arabic and Tachelhit, the most widely spoken native language in Morocco.

Hassan Ait Belhaj, who owns several rental properties in Moulay Brahim, said the buildings were not designed for such powerful earthquakes and wondered how long it would take the area to recover.

The military has deployed planes, helicopters and drones. Emergency services have rushed relief efforts to the worst-hit areas, but roads leading to mountainous areas around the epicenter are clogged with traffic and blocked by debris, slowing rescue efforts.

Mai Van (according to AP)

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