It was the worst earthquake in Morocco in decades. More than 2,000 people were killed and at least as many injured – and rescuers have still not reached remote areas. The epicenter of the earthquake was more than 70 kilometers southwest of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains. “In some villages, 90 percent of the people died,” reports Austrian entrepreneur Farid Kachoun.
Farid Kachoun personally experienced the devastating earthquake in Morocco on Saturday evening. “I just came home from work to my apartment. Then suddenly everything shook,” says the operator of a hotel in Marrakesh.
“We were all nervous”
“It was loud, people were screaming,” Kachoun said. “Then the internet was gone, the phone service was gone and the power was out,” he said of the immediate moments after the earthquake. ‘Then I’ll go straight back to my guests. We waited outside until 3am,” said the 57-year-old. “We were all nervous.”
215 Austrians abroad in Morocco
The Moroccan with an Austrian passport returned from Salzburg to Marrakech ten years ago due to an inheritance and is one of the 215 Austrians abroad. Kachoun survived Saturday evening unharmed. “Me and my family were lucky. Nothing happened to us. The hotel and our apartment are fine,” said the father of three.
He himself is now mainly struggling with the economic consequences of the earthquake. “Twelve people canceled me,” says Kachoun, who regularly counts Austrians among his guests in Marrakech. “Their Foreign Ministry warned them that it was dangerous to fly to Morocco now.”
The situation after the natural disaster is “incredibly sad”. “So far, 38 people have been killed in Marrakech alone,” he said. Authorities across the country recently spoke of more than 2,000 deaths. However, it is feared that the number of victims will continue to rise.
“There is much more destruction in the mountains”
“There was much more destruction in the mountains, so many people died,” Kachoun said. The epicenter of the earthquake was more than 70 kilometers southwest of Marrakech in the Atlas Mountains. “In some villages, 90 percent of the people died.”
In Marrakech, the old Jewish settlement in the south of the medina was particularly damaged by the earthquake. “Many houses there were destroyed, including the tower of a mosque,” Kachoun said.
Fear of a new catastrophe
The mood across the country is now depressing, Kachoun said. Nevertheless, the whole country now remains together. “Everyone now helps together: children, the elderly, families.” The 57-year-old says he hopes that as many people as possible can be rescued from the rubble. But the fear of a new catastrophe is always present in the back of our minds. The population had already been warned of further aftershocks. “Everyone is still scared.”
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
