2010-02-20 04:50:20 - Technological Disaster - Morocco EDIS CODE: AC-20100220-25000-MAR
Date & Time: 2010-02-20 04:50:20 [UTC]
Area: Morocco, Région de Meknés-Tafilalet, , Meknes Number of death person(s): 38
Number of Injured person(s): 70
Damage level: Heavy (Level 3)
Not confirmed information! Description: A four-century old minaret collapsed, on Friday, in the city of Meknes in central Morocco, killing 38 worshipers and over 70 injured. An official source said. The same source confirmed that 51 injured were released and 20 are still in the hospitals. “About 300 worshipers gathered inside the mosque for the Friday afternoon mass prayers. When the imam (preacher) was about to start his sermon, the minaret went down,” Khaled Rahmouni, whose home is near the mosque, told Reuters by telephone. Upon instructions from King Mohammed VI, both Interior and Islamic Affairs Ministers went to the collapse scene to supervise rescue operations and enquire about the health situation of the injured. In this respect, the two officials expressed his Majesty’s condolences to the families of the victims, a statement of the Interior Ministry said. The Sovereign also gave instructions to rebuild as soon as possible the mosque while preserving its original architecture. The accident occurred during Friday prayers in the historic city of Meknes, leaving at least 71 people injured. Moroccan officials blamed the incident on heavy rain that had weakened the minaret at the Bab Berdieyinne mosque. Due to the old imperial architecture of the city of Meknes and because of its narrow streets Moroccan defense officials, said the rescue operation was slow “We are using only manpower, not equipment as we cannot bring heavy equipment through these streets”.
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