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# Deadly Earthquake in Morocco Destroys Cultural Heritage
- URL: https://hyperallergic.com/deadly-earthquake-in-morocco-destroys-cultural-heritage/
- Published: 2023-09-11T20:55:30.000Z
- Updated: 2025-11-24T15:13:02.000Z
- Description: Several mosques and the historic center of Marrakesh sustained damage during the earthquake, which has killed over 2,000 people.
- Author: Elaine Velie
- Tags: News, Cultural Heritage, Morocco, #wp, #wp-post, #image-position-large, #Import 2025-11-24 09:29 (2023, 2024, part 1)

Shortly after 11pm on Friday, September 8, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountain region of Morocco, killing more than [2,680](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/live-blog/morocco-earthquake-live-update-death-toll-rescuers-dig-hand-rcna104322?ref=hyperallergic.com) people, injuring over 2,500, and affecting at least 300,000\. The quake was the [strongest](https://apnews.com/article/morocco-earthquake-marraskesh-7f4a503009dede0dec0208c08d6b100b?ref=hyperallergic.com) to strike the nation in 100 years, according to the [US Geological Survey's National Earthquake Information Center](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us7000kufc/executive?ref=hyperallergic.com). An [aftershock](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/10/morocco-quake-updates-aftershock-rocks-rescuers/70816182007/?ref=hyperallergic.com) on Sunday worsened the damage and left victims [sleeping outdoors](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/many-marrakech-sleep-outdoors-second-night-after-morocco-quake-2023-09-10/?ref=hyperallergic.com) in fear of their homes collapsing. Many have traveled to Marrakesh — around 45 miles away from the earthquake's epicenter — to receive medical treatment. The natural disaster has also inflicted severe damage to parts of the city's cultural heritage.

Much of the structural damage in Marrakesh occurred in its Medieval old town — a UNESCO World Heritage site called the [Medina](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/331/?ref=hyperallergic.com). The site was founded in 1070 by the Muslim Almoravids and later served as the capital of the Almohads, who [conquered](https://shs.hal.science/halshs-01453002/document?ref=hyperallergic.com#:~:text=In%201147%2C%20the%20first%20Almohad,long%20struggle%20lasting%20seven%20years.) in 1147 and expanded their empire northward into Spain. The Medina is surrounded by red sandstone walls, and [videos](https://twitter.com/AlexandreKrausz/status/1700325636424843505?ref=hyperallergic.com) on social media show that parts of the barriers have crumbled. Inside, homes in the historic Mellah Jewish district have also been badly damaged.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/09/mosque_1.jpg)

A photo shows the collapsed minaret of the Kharbouch Mosque. (screenshot Elaine Velie/*Hyperallergic* via [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/p/CxBis0EIM16/?img%5Findex=4&ref=hyperallergic.com))

Elsewhere in the Medieval city center, two mosques next to the Jemaa el-Fna Square — a popular tourist attraction with [stalls](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/marrakesh/djemaa-el-fna-around/attractions/djemaa-el-fna/a/poi-sig/422043/1341479?ref=hyperallergic.com) that sell food and souvenirs — were badly hit. The minaret of the small Kharbouch Mosque collapsed, and video shows the minaret of the nearby Koutoubia Mosque [shaking](https://twitter.com/NadiaBouras/status/1700454255448986042?ref=hyperallergic.com). According to Eric Fact, regional director for UNESCO in Morocco, that mosque has suffered "[major cracks](https://www.instagram.com/p/CxBis0EIM16/?img%5Findex=1&ref=hyperallergic.com)."

In the mountains near the earthquake's epicenter, the 12th-century [Tinmel](https://twitter.com/YAsrarguis/status/1700609108922040481/photo/1?ref=hyperallergic.com) Mosque appears to have been almost completely destroyed, according to photographs on Twitter. The church was [built](https://www.academia.edu/43256358/Peregrination%5Fand%5FCeremonial%5Fin%5Fthe%5FAlmohad%5FMosque%5Fof%5FTinmal?ref=hyperallergic.com) in the 12th century by the leader of the Almohad empire.

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/09/tinmel_mosque.jpg)

The Tinmel Mosque before the earthquake (photo via [Flickr](https://flickr.com/photos/emilien50/51631642643/in/photolist-25k4wJV-26CKcc5-2mEqj3F-2mEydWe-2mEvSFx-2mEuGaN-2mEqtga-2mEqtnn-2mEz6Z2-2mEz5ak-2mEz4Vs-2mEyTWu-2mEyUka-2mEyTQ7-2mEvExe-2mExRTY-2mEuwYr-2mEqt7T-2mEz66y-2mEqvJG-2mEvRXP-2mEqtFd-2mExQiU-2mEqjrG-2mEqiKM-2mEySJE-2mEySSW-2mEuwas?ref=hyperallergic.com))

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/51/f8/51f871d8-b6be-4a73-b958-0ca4fff0110a/content/images/hyperallergic-newspack-s3-amazonaws-com/uploads/2023/09/tinmet_damaged.jpg)

Photos show the recent damage to Tinmel. (screenshot Elaine Velie/*Hyperallergic* via [X](https://twitter.com/AbderrahiKassou/status/1700899952426201322/photo/2?ref=hyperallergic.com))

Marrakesh is Morocco's [most popular](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230910-tourists-not-going-to-let-quake-stop-morocco-trip?ref=hyperallergic.com) tourist destination and Medina is a heavily frequented destination. Beyond Jemaa el-Fna Square, many of its popular stops, such as the fortressed Casbah citadel, the 16th-century [Badiâ Palace](https://www.lonelyplanet.com/morocco/marrakesh/riads-zitoun-kasbah/attractions/badia-palace/a/poi-sig/1378645/1341480?ref=hyperallergic.com), and the [Medersa Ben Youssef](https://medersabenyoussef.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), an Islamic school built in the 1300s, were largely unscathed. On-the-ground [reports](https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20230910-tourists-not-going-to-let-quake-stop-morocco-trip?ref=hyperallergic.com) state that some tours have been canceled, but other travelers have decided to [stay](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-66765761?ref=hyperallergic.com). Other high-traffic tourist areas of Morocco, such as the cities of Fez and Casablanca, did not sustain damage.

Moroccan government aid to the rural High Atlas Mountain region has been relatively [slow](https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/morocco-earthquake-rescue-efforts-intensify-as-death-toll-passes-2-000-ebb20299?ref=hyperallergic.com). A [host](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/foreign-offers-aid-response-morocco-earthquake-2023-09-10/?ref=hyperallergic.com) of nations have offered aid and some have already dispatched search teams and funds. Rescue [efforts](https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/morocco-earthquake-efforts-103077715?ref=hyperallergic.com) are largely centered in the High Atlas Mountain region that was worst hit; the rural area's homes were largely built with red brick, a construction that was structurally vulnerable to earthquakes and has made it [difficult](https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/moroccos-mud-brick-housing-makes-hunt-earthquake-survivors-harder-2023-09-11/?ref=hyperallergic.com) to find survivors in the rubble.

Cultural workers have stepped in to do their part. A group of 24 artists is selling prints to benefit emergency relief as part of the initiative [Artists for Morocco](https://artistsformorocco.com/?ref=hyperallergic.com), which will donate 100% of proceeds to the [Rif Tribes Foundation](https://www.riftribes.org/our-services?ref=hyperallergic.com). The organization provides humanitarian aid and promotes the traditional artistic and cultural practices of Morocco's native Amazigh minority. The two dozen prints are all priced at $137.