Morocco Earthquake: Slow Relief and Recovery Hindered by Mountain Village Supply Challenges

2023-09-23 17:20:00

[앵커]

Morocco, hit by the strongest earthquake in over 120 years, is experiencing slow relief and recovery due to difficulties in providing supplies to mountain villages.

Although there were no casualties, local Koreans are unable to shake their anxiety over the possibility of aftershocks and are appealing for the international community’s attention.

Reporter Kim Rae-hyun reports.

[기자]

Morocco, where a magnitude 6.8 earthquake occurred on the 8th local time.

There was enormous damage to life and property, with thousands of deaths.

Marrakech, Morocco’s long-time political, economic, and cultural center, which is 71km away from the epicenter, is also severely damaged by the earthquake.

In particular, the old town Medina, which appears in the background of numerous Hollywood productions and is designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, suffered significant damage.

Koutoubia Mosque, the so-called ‘roof of Marrakech’ and known as one of the three major mosques of Islam.

Cracks appeared throughout the 69-meter-tall building.

[하미드 / 상점 주인 : 지금 사람들은 트라우마를 가지고 있습니다. 지금 굉장히 힘들고 아픕니다. 아직도 무서워하고 있습니다. 어떤 사람들은 집에서 잠을 자지 못합니다. 밖에서 노숙하고 있습니다.]

There are approximately 360 Koreans living in Morocco.

Although there were no casualties due to the earthquake, some Koreans suffered property damage, including cracks in various parts of their homes.

In particular, most Koreans had to evacuate for a long time because the memory of their houses shaking was so scary.

[심재석 / 모로코 경제인협의회장 : 카사블랑카 같은 경우는 거의 진앙에서부터 한 300km 이상이 떨어져 있는데도 불구하고 밤 11시 이후에 지금 지진이 발생했기 때문에 거의 침대가 흔들릴 정도의 굉장히 심한 진동을 느꼈고 0132~ (시민들이) 잠을 못 자고 밤새 밖에서 대피해 가지고.]

In particular, this earthquake is the strongest earthquake that has occurred in Morocco since 1900.

Compatriots who have lived there for a long time appeal that Morocco desperately needs active help from the international community as it is not properly prepared for earthquakes.

[심재석 / 모로코 경제인협의회장 : (지진) 경험이 없었기 때문에 전체적으로 이 피해가 굉장히 심합니다. 집들이 모두 파손돼서 지금 굉장히 어려움을 겪고 있는데요. 국제적인 연대를 가지고 좀 필요한 적극적인 구호의 손길이 빨리 좀 지원이 되었으면..]

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Our local embassy is checking the safety of Koreans in real time through mobile chat rooms to relieve the anxiety of our compatriots.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised humanitarian support, including dispatching an overseas emergency relief team led by medical staff.

[박장근 / 주모로코 대사관 영사 : 사실 모로코도 많은 병력을 파견한 것은 아니나 우리 6.25 전쟁을 통해서 우리 자유민주주의를 수호하기 위해서 희생을 했던 국가 중 하나이거든요. 그래서 우리 형제 국가인 만큼 조금 더 모로코에 대해서 관심을 가져주시면 모로코 분들이 좀 더 힘을 받을 수 있지 않을까….]

The Moroccan government is focusing its efforts on supporting survivors and accelerating the recovery of damage to mountain villages, but it is expected that it will take quite some time to control the situation as there are still many areas that are difficult to reach and damage from aftershocks is a concern.

This is Raehyun Kim from YTN World in Marrakech, Morocco.

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