UNESCO will assist Morocco’s authorities in determining the extent of damage inflicted on heritage sites and educational facilities by the quake, as well as the impact on building integrity, the organization tweeted on X on Sunday.
Head of UNESCO Audrey Azoulay reported that a UNESCO mission had visited the historical city of Marrakech on Saturday to assess the situation before any repair or rebuilding of damaged infrastructure begins.
توجهت بعثة من #اليونسكو إلى مدينة #مراكش. ستقدّم منظمتنا الدعم إلى السلطات المغربية لحصر الأضرار التي تكبدها قطاعا #التراث و #التعليم, وتأمين المباني تمهيداً لعملية إعادة الإعمار. https://t.co/f5qGg8dw8W
— اليونسكو (@UNESCOarabic) September 10, 2023
Friday’s earthquake, the deadliest ever to strike Morocco, caused severe damage to Tinmel Mosque, one of the oldest and most revered historical sites in the Great Atlas Mountains, southwest of Marrakech.
The first Caliph of the Almohad dynasty, Mehdi Ben Toumert, built the mosque in the 12th Century AD using dirt and stone.
One of Marrakech favorite tourist sites, the Koutoubia Mosque, was also severely weakened, and has been closed to the public.