The noise comes first. A knocking and then just sound all around. The house starts to shake. I know immediately without even thinking. Earthquake.
I leap out of bed. The cats flee under it. All the safety lights in the compound go out. The walls of the house are flexing. It is like the square is trying to become a parallelogram.
I run for the door. It is locked. I manage to turn the key, and run out.
I want to be outside. Our yard is tilting and groaning. I can hear shouts and screams. One is my own. I am alone in the dark on the moving ground.
The trembling stops.
My neighbours start to come up and down and out We are about 25 people with the youngest being 2 and the oldest 100.
My house faces out onto the valley and the others are built into the mountain. They are solid and if they fall it would be catastrophic.
We cluster in the middle of the yard. I go back in to the house to find torches and a power bank and to put shoes on. I bring out shoes and shawls for anyone who needs them. My house is in the middle and the most accessible. But stupidly I don’t grab warm clothes for myself.
Everyone is crying and frightened. When we are all gathered we head down to the main road and the car park.
‘Safe arrival. Thanks be to God.’ Prayers of gratitude as we stumble down the steep slope.
Then it is a rush for signal as everyone checks in. We find the quake was in Asni and Marrakech too.
All the lower part of the village is now in the car park. Mules and cows have been brought over from the hamlet facing us.
We hope there are no casualties and no losses.
We are too scared to go back in case of after shocks. Dawn is 5 hours away. The signal dies.
The night is wearing on slowly. We are arranged in extended family groups in the car park. The men are standing on the opposite side and we women and children have colonised the low wall to sit on, or against.
Groups of men go and bring back water and blankets. A cow is lowing anxiously. Me, Aicha and Hasna are sharing a blanket.
The night becomes very cold. I’m only wearing a thin nightdress and a short sleeved jumper. I’m freezing. All the women and children are now in one big huddle for warmth. Someone sees my bare legs and immediately pulls a scrap of blanket over them.
Later three of us take refuge in my Toyota Yaris and I put a shopping bag over my head and another on my legs to keep warm. I doze.
It’s 6 o’clock and dawn is breaking. We move back up as a community.
There are huge cracks in the yard. Back in the house, the floor is littered with stuff that’s fallen off shelves.
The cats just want breakfast as normal. I need to warm up and try to sleep but will keep warm clothes, my shoes and head torch on. Just in case. So far, we’ve been lucky but news is coming in of deaths else where. Horrible. The road is closed. For now, we are here.
PS. Just cycled to get signal. It’s apocalyptic
Please donate here. These guys will get money to the right places https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Here is my podcast on the earthquake and immediate aftermath. It was recorded on Sunday 10th September 2023
Apple – https://podcasts.apple.com/no/podcast/alice-in-wanderland/id1484063831
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/episode/3KuuwLAzv4KaZYJHlaESK3
Thanks be to God you’re OK, been waiting since 2am to see you back online. Its catastrophic Alice, all those small villages badly affected, over 1000 now lost their lives. So many homes and businesses too. Sending hugs xx
Thank you so much
Thinking of you Alice and people around you .Thank you for sharing what’s going on .
Tessa Pearson has forwarded your link on .
We are currently in Marrakech with our sept group .
Some were here the night of the earthquake.
Best wishes Lara
God blass you, dear Alice.
Thank you.
My sister Eleanor Moudiotis her husband Chris and children Emily 23 and Sam 19 are in Imlil having done a trek on Friday. They are both doctors. I cannot get in contact with them and am hoping they are ok and helping the injured. Can you help? Please?
They are safe
Stay safe. I’m so sorry. My daughter spent first half of the year in Ouarzazate. She’s still waiting to hear friends there are safe.
Thank you Alice, for this update, which must have very challenging to write, emotionally and technically. I’m so sorry to hear of this devastation and hope against hope that the damage is not worse than can be grappled with.
After visiting Morocco for a second time, last year, and falling in love with it all over again, I encouraged some friends to go. They were staying n the centre of Marrakech last night and we’ve only just heard they are safe. I was thinking of you too as I follow your posts having loved your books. Terrifying experience for you all. Stay safe.
Praise be you and your fellow peoples are all safe. Must have beers terrifying! Will be thinking of you in the coming days and nights. Stay safe is an old cliche, but it is meant!
Oh thank goodness you’re safe. It sounds terrifying. Call when you can. Love you. Prayers for everyone there xxx
It was a relief to see Alice safe and unharmed! As a follower of her treks & lifestyle in the beautiful Atlas Mountains, it’s devastatingly sad to see and hear of the massive loss & damage that has been bestowed upon Morocco, bless her for her report on tv .. stay safe Alice my felt love & healing .
Sending my love from the Netherlands. Please share what kind of international support is needed. I hear blankets, medicine….is that so?
A donation for the local communities would be great https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Wishing you all a safe return to your homes soon. Thinking of you in Derbyshire xx
Your safety, I hope you are well. I wish mercy and forgiveness for the dead and a speedy recovery for the wounded
It’s good you and your village seem to be safe. Earthquakes are truly terrible. I hope the damage to your homes is repairable. Thinking of you all
Alhamdillah that you, the village and the cats are ok! Take care! X
Stay safe, so relieved you were able to report back .. sending love & healing Alice.
Trust you continue to be safe!
Oh goodness – thank heavens you are safe, and will be sending many warm and strengthening thoughts in the days ahead
xx
Alice, So glad that you’re safe! You are strong and the life you have lead will help you and others in this stressful time. Stay safe and strong. We all greave for those who have been lost.
Please let us know how to help.
Thank you. A donation would be lovely. https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Alice it sounds absolutely terrifying. My thoughts are with you but also with all the families who may have lost loved ones. We are hearing of over 800 dead. Just awful. Please take care xxx
Alice, I only know you through your books, films, Twitter (X) and podcast but when I saw your post about the earthquake I was so concerned for you & your neighbors. Stay safe. Best wishes from New Mexico, USA.
Hi, thank you for sharing what the situation is near Imlil. My sister-in-law is an American who was heading out on a multi-day hiking trip in the Atlas Mountains and from what we have been able to piece together, in terms of her itinerary, she was likely staying in Imlil when the earthquake happened. We haven’t been able to reach her and are very concerned. Her name is Lucy. If you have any information that might point us in the right direction, please let me know.
Sean
She is safe
Ohhh Alice, how horrible for you and everyone involvedI am so glad you are safe
Best wishes and stay safe,
Praise be to Hod that you and your community are safe , but so horrible to hear about the tragedy in other places . Praying for everyone
Awful. I remember Agadir being ruined back in the 60’s. Please take care, all of you.
The parents of the U.K. Guide group that were in Imlil last month on a community project are wondering how to help. Villagers welcomed our daughters into their homes and gave them breakfast.
A donation would be very welcome
https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
How terrifying for you all. I hope you all remain safe and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers
So relieved to hear. Take care and stay safe. All of you.
Hello Im trying to reach two friends of mine probably were in Imllil today both are Israelis can you please mail me back if you did?
I’m sure they are safe
Terrifying. Glad you are ok and thinking of you and your lovely friends there xx
Thinking of you all, hope you can return to your homes soon x
Sending love and prayers for you all x x
HOW TERRIFYING…THANK YOU FOR YOUR POST….PRAYING FOR YOU AND EVERYONE.. MAY GOD BE WITH ALL OF YOU ALWAYS,… ESECIALLY AT THIS OF DIFFICULTIES AND CHALLENGES.
Glad you are ok Alice. I m really heartbroken for Morocco, it’s people and Imlil and Toubkal which I hold lose to the ❤️
Good you are safe for now. Impressive journalism considering
Concern and best wishes from Baltimore.
We were just in Morocco, including Marrakech and the High Atlas, this past May. We made several friends there with whom we are still in touch. All of them, thank god, are safe, though the ones in Tinghir now have demolished houses.
I’ve been following your Instagram and blog for a while and greatly enjoyed one of your books a few weeks ago, so I immediately thought of you this morning. So glad you’re safe. But I’m so sorry. I realize that words are inadequate.
Drar Alice, I am so glad that you and the people in your village survive this horrible night. The earthquake will have terrible consequensed for Morocco. I have visited Imlil and Marrakech several times. Now it will take time to build up those parts of the country again.
So glad to hear that you are okay – and that the cats have been fed!
How horribly frightening for all of you……I hope you stay safe!
I have loved reading your books. It brought morocco alive after I visited in April. I wish I could help. My thoughts are with the delightful and kind people that we met in the short time we were in Sidi Badhaj. So sad.
Good to know you are safe…..
Thank God you have been saved! We pray for all of you and all Marroco people .
Sending love and solidarity. Thank you so much for telling all about what you see on your blog.
Thank God you are all ok! We just saw the news and were worried what had happened to you. Stay safe my dear and yes stay alert for the after shocks. Thinking of you and sending warm, warm love. Christine and Mike
Alice, So grateful to have found this site and to know you and those in your village are alive. Thank you for posting. Warm thoughts and love continually being sent to all.
Alice just watching BBC New and the number of losses so far are horrendous. So glad you and your community are all safe and looking out for each other. Your blog is an amazing eye opener of what an earthquake is really like.
Take care, keep things you need close by… Keep safe. x
Thank you for sharing. It’s heartbreaking, so much devastation and loss of life. Be safe. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Morocco xx
Thoughts are so much with you and your neighbours. Thank you for this vivid and frightening account.
You give us a vivid depiction, I’m deeply moved by your experience Alice. Really important to know what you and your community went through. You are brave souls. x
Glad to read you are safe but it is certainly scary having to wait for after shocks. Stay safe and well.
Prays for you and all those involved Alice.
I’m so sad that this has happened to Morocco, to the people of the Atlas, Marrakech and around. I am glad you’re ok and thank you for reporting. I pray for the people affected.
Sending prayers for the safety of those in Imlil and remembering the several times I visited and then followed your travels in this wonderful country.
Alice, thank you for sharing. I’ve visited Imlil and our immediate thoughts are with the wonderful people we met there. I hope you stay safe. Thinking of you
Sending love and prayers to you, and all affected.
If there is a gofundme set up for Imlil please share. We stayed at the Atlas Riad and are praying they are all safe
Thank you. A donation would really help https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Thinking of you and keeping you all in our prayers…
Are hearts are with you all. We were with your friends in Imlil & the mountains only 2 weeks ago. Sending all our love & strength from Scotland xxx
God bless Alice, I was meant to do the Intrepid walking holiday at exactly this time, but have postponed to next year due to flights being too expensive. Thinking of everyone in Morocco.
Alice, thank you so much for this vivid account of your experience. We have friends who live in the nearby village of Aguersioual, a Berber family who we met whilst walking when they welcomed us into their home to join their wedding party in 2006. Such joyful, open, generous people. I am sorry to ask you when you are dealing with so much yourself but if you had any news of that village I would be so, so grateful. Sending love and strength to all of you In this very special part of the world.
A huge tragedy ..Is there anything we can do here in the UK that will support the Imlil community directly.
I am seeing adverts for Aid donations which we can all donate to , but feeling that I would like to support the Imlil Community directly to in some way give something back for the hospitality and love given each time I have visited.
Keep safe x
Yes, please do let us know what help you all need in Imlil. We have happy memories of the village and Kasbah Samra. We can try and arrange support from here.
There are families here looking for a Rebecca Calvert and friend Hilary Mckegney who were staying in Imlil if you are able to send any information about them. God bless you all
They are safe. Thank you. A donation would be much appreciated https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Sending prayers. Spent a very happy few days in imlil climbing mt. Toukbal and enjoying the village hospitality. Like another reader would love any aid I give to go directly to imlil.
Thank you a donation would be great
https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
I’m so glad you’re ok but so sad for those who aren’t or have lost their homes. Thinking of you Alice
Glad to hear you and your neighbours are safe Alice Your words bring the frightening horror of it all to us all sat here in the safety of our own homes Take care in the coming days
Really glad to hear you and your neighbours are safe Alice. You live in such a beautiful part of the world, which we were privileged to visit last year. We had a wonderful trip to the mountains, made to feel so welcome, with a fantastic trip to Amzil. I hope our tour guide Hassan is OK. Such devastating news. Our thoughts are with you all. ❤️
Hi there,
We are looking for our freinds in imlil and was wondering if you have come across them? We think we can’t get hold of them because of the signal issues. But I was wondering if you have had any contact from the Moudiotis family. Our friend Emily is there with her mum, dad and brother Sam. If you have any information please email me: 123phiphi@gmail.com
I believe they are fine
Are you in Imlil? Is everybody safe there? We bring a group of students every year to Dar Imlil. Hoping all our friends are safe and well. Keep safe x
Yes. All safe thank goodness. Please still come.
Any news of Rebecca Calvert who is in Imlil please?
Sending positive thoughts to all
She is safe
thankyou!
hope you all get the support you need.
I just heard you speaking on radio 4- recognised your voice straight away. Hope you will all get support soon.
Liz and Sean
Looking to see if a friend is safe Driss Lauchgar he lives in Imlil
He is safe
Thank you. I got in touch with him a few days back.
i will have same Fresh aire at the montain behind
Thank God your all safe. Truly wish there was something we could do . Thank you for your post. I thought of you as soon as I heard the news xx
Thank you. A donation would be much appreciated https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
I pray for the beautiful family my wife and I had tea with in Asni not more than 3 weeks ago. So kind and gracious. Our hearts go out to them and all who are suffering. Morocco is such a beautiful country and I hope they recover quickly, knowing it will take years.
Take care Alice.
Thoughts are with you and your neighbours, Alice.
Please update on the situation in Imlil our thoughts are with you.
Please keep us posted on your cats, I hope you and everyone and they are okay
If there is something we in the US can do to help your village (Imlil) directly please let us know. It sounds like you need helicopters to drop supplies (food, water, blankets, medicine) into the village area until roads can be repaired. It goes without say that an abundance of prayers are coming your way.
Thank you. A donation would be much appreciated. https://www.gofundme.com/f/british-moroccan-society-earthquake-appeal
Encourage people to donate to the Red Crescent. At least with them we can be sure the money is used wisely.
Don’t trust the Makhzen.
Can you mention of your site that the Red Crescent is taking donations? I’m sure people want to help and the Red Crescent is pretty good at delivery.
Relieved to learn that you are safe, my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your community – God bless.
Have donated and shared link. Hope all goes well for you all.
Thank the Lord you are ok. Visited Morocco earlier in the year and have been reading your books. My first thoughts were for you and your dear friends. Praying they are all ok. Thinking of you.
Very relieved to know you are ok, praying for your local villagers, hoping help comes quickly x
Thank you so much for all your efforts to let people know about this beautiful country ❤️❤️❤️❤️ much love
They are safe
Hello again Alice. Just wondering if you have any news of Aguersioual village just near Imlil. I left a message 0855 on Sept 10th. Thank you so much for this great job you are doing keeping people updated
All are safe there and at the time there was no signal but it has now been restored.
Thank you very much Alice and will donate. Desperately hoping that help gets to your area urgently.
It is difficult to understand why the Moroccan leaders are reluctant to allow helpers out to the mountain villages, especially when water, food, toilet facilities, medicine are so badly needed (as I understand it from the news). In this day and age, helicopters can either drop in supplies or LAND and pick up injured and off-load supplies. I have listened to a variety of news sources and tried to piece together just where the apparent disconnect is happening. If, in one of your blogs or podcasts, you are able to shed some light on that issue, I’d be grateful. For example, there are food kitchens now set up by World Central Kitchen—can that food be ported out to mountain villages. So concerned about that part of Morocco that has been severely damaged.
Hi Alice. Thank you so much for your update on the current conditions in Imlil.
We were there in August this year and visited seeing the waterfall with Hamed Amzil.
I have been in contact with him and aware they are living in tents outside of their house. Our thoughts are with all the families there.