Baek Jong-won's Marakeshi Korean Restaurant Severely Hit by Morocco Earthquake

Major Foreign Media Report on the 9th
Damage Videos Spread via SNS

Marrakech, the ancient city in North Africa's Morocco that suffered great damage from a magnitude 6.8 earthquake, boasts a long history dating back to the medieval era and is a frequent filming location for Hollywood movies.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to major foreign media on the 9th (local time), the magnitude 6.8 earthquake that struck about 70 km southwest of Marrakech late the previous night caused over 600 deaths in the old city Medina of Marrakech, with buildings collapsing and extensive damage occurring.

Morocco is located at the western edge of North Africa where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. Although it borders these waters, its inland area consists of rugged mountainous terrain. It covers an area of approximately 446,000 km² and has a population of about 37 million. The capital is Rabat, while Marrakech has a population of about 1.1 million.

Especially, Marrakech is a representative historic city with numerous medieval relics and cultural heritage such as mosques and palaces. The name means "Land of God" in Berber and is the etymological origin of the country's name, "Morocco." The entire Medina district is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It contains many architectural and cultural heritages including the Koutoubia Mosque, city walls, gardens, the Badi Palace, and Jemaa el-Fnaa square.

Marrakech has appeared as a backdrop in Hollywood movies and dramas such as Mission: Impossible ? Rogue Nation, The Mummy, Sex and the City 2, and the drama Game of Thrones, making it a popular filming location. Recently, a famous Korean chef, Baek Jong-won, attracted attention by selling Korean food at a market in the central square of Marrakech on a Korean variety show.

Due to its geographical location, important international conferences are frequently held there. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) annual meetings were scheduled to be held there next month until the 15th. In April 1994, the Marrakesh Agreement, which laid the foundation for the establishment of the World Trade Organization (WTO), was also signed there.

Unfortunately, social media currently shares the horrific damage in Marrakech. Large cracks can be seen in some sections of the old red city walls, and piles of stones are scattered on the streets. Videos showing people screaming and running near the landmark 12th-century Koutoubia Mosque are being shared in real time, conveying the extent of the damage.