Deadly Morocco earthquake was like someone picked up the hotel room and shook it, says terrified Brit
TERRIFIED tourists told of their horror as an earthquake killed more than 1,000 people in Morocco.
They dived under tables or ran from their hotels to shelter by poolsides in Marrakesh, a destination popular with Brits.
Video footage showed a massive cloud of dust surrounding the historic city, a World Heritage Site, as buildings collapsed.
About 700,000 Brits travel to Morocco each year and it is not known if any were killed or injured — but the death toll across the North African country is expected to rise.
As well as the hundreds killed, 700 were injured.
Simon London, 55, from Brent, North London, was in Marrakesh, at the foot of the Atlas mountains, for a conference.
He said: “I dived under the little bed in the corner of my room, in just my pants.
“It was like someone picked up the room and was shaking it. I could hear rattling, I could hear shouting and screaming. That was really f***ing scary.”
Abhay Ashiani, 25, from Aylesbury Bucks, was enjoying a dinner at a rooftop restaurant with two friends.
He said: “We saw a huge cloud of smoke. The initial thought was it is terrorism, and then you realise it’s an earthquake and we need to get out.”
Debra Wilton, who arrived with her husband two hours before the earthquake hit, said: “The whole building just shook, it was so scary.
“The hotel staff were running around like headless chickens. It was just horrendous.”
Student Clara Bennett, from Hampshire, said she was brushing her teeth when she heard “this roar of thunder”.
She added: “It was terrifying. You just don’t have any idea what’s going on. The floors were violently shaking, the walls were shaking, things were falling off shelving.
“I went into my bedroom and completely collapsed to the floor because you couldn’t stand. As soon as it ended you heard all this screaming outside. It was chaos.”
Friday night’s 6.8 magnitude quake, with its epicentre high in the mountains some 40 miles away, was the country’s biggest in 120 years and was felt as far afield as Portugal.
Morocco’s King Mohammed VI ordered the armed forces to mobilise by both land and air, with search and rescue teams, plus field hospitals.
There were reports of survivors clawing at rubble with their hands to get to loved ones.
Yesterday witnesses described Marrakesh as like a ghost town, with some trippers helping to clear up rubble while others sat stunned with their suitcases.
Ancient buildings and walls were cracked. The famous 12th century Koutoubia mosque — with its 226ft minaret known as the “roof of Marrakesh” — is believed to have suffered limited damage. In Jemaa el Fnaa square, famed for its sprawling market, a mosque partly collapsed.
Roads leading to the mountain region were choked with vehicles and blocked with debris. Montasir Itri, in the village of Asni, said most houses there were damaged and added: “Our neighbours are under the rubble.”
In Amizmiz, Mohamed Azaw said: “When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet, and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out.
But my neighbours couldn’t. No one was found alive in that family.”
Ayoub Toudite, who lives in Moulay Brahim, pleaded: “We are in dire need of ambulances. The matter is urgent. Please save us.”
Richard Blewitt, of the British Red Cross, said: “Sadly the full scale of the destruction is only likely to become apparent in the coming days. We are launching an emergency appeal.”
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “The UK is continuing to support British nationals in the region. We stand ready to help our Moroccan friends in whatever way we can.”
The Foreign Office advised tourists to follow instructions from local authorities.
It said Marrakesh and Agadir airports remained open — but huge queues built up in a stampede to leave.
The rush is also expected to worsen as tour operators evacuate groups from the High Atlas and down to Marrakesh.
Accommodation in the city is already in short supply as buildings in vulnerable areas were ruled off limits. City residents were pictured sleeping on floors.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak: “My thoughts are with everyone affected. The UK stands ready to support our Moroccan friends.”
Other world leaders including from France and Germany offered their support.
But expert Prof Bill McGuire, of University College London, warned: “I would expect the final death toll to climb into the thousands once more is known.
“As with any big quake, aftershocks are likely which will lead to further casualties and hinder search and rescue.”