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Many die as mosque minaret collapses in Morocco

by Paul Conneally | February 19, 2010 at 01:05 pm

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Moroccan State TV is now reporting that 32 people have died and 68 have been injured citing Interior Ministry officials.

Initial reports suggested at least 11 people died after a mosque minaret collapsed in the Moroccan town of Meknes.

Many more have been injured as the minaret fell during Friday prayers on around 300 worshipers. It is feared that a number of people are trapped in the rubble.

Officials from the Moroccan Interior Ministry believe the accident may have been caused by recent heavy rain weakening the minaret at the Bab Berdieyinne Mosque.

The collapse came after "heavy rains which lashed the region for several days," the television report said.

The ministry announced earlier that the minaret of the Berdieyinne mosque in Meknes' Old City toppled at 7:45 a.m. ET during weekly prayers. It gave an initial toll of at least 11 dead.

Dozens of people were injured in the accident at the Berdieyinne mosque in Meknes' old city during Friday prayers.

A doctor at the scene told Reuters news agency he had counted 13 corpses as they were being pulled out by rescuers.

Up to 80 people were reportedly trapped beneath the rubble. The minaret is said to have been four centuries old.

A 400-year-old minaret collapsed Friday in Meknes, Morocco, killing 11 people and injuring 50, the Interior Ministry reported, according to the official news agency Maghreb Arabe Presse.

The interior and religious affairs ministers were at the site to supervise rescue operations. King Mohammed VI has meanwhile ordered the reconstruction of the minaret "keeping to its original form."

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stejeb

at 13:15 on February 19th, 2010

Wonder if that will shake their faith? Awful thing to happen, passed through there when I was on holiday, think I have a snap of the minaret somewhere.

Uwe Paschen

at 17:16 on February 19th, 2010

I have visited that Minaret once, it is build out of sun dried clay block and wood.

Most building in the Maghreb are still today.

stejeb

at 17:25 on February 19th, 2010

Well, it was Uwe, they have buildings collapsing quite regularly over there, one went down in the old part of Rabat while I was there, an old shop, with living accomodation over it no one was hurt thankfully, but basically, Morocco's historical buildings are falling down, they keep standing by the grace of god, heavy rain reintroduces them to gravity very quickly, a real shame.