As recovery efforts continue following Morocco’s 6.8-magnitude earthquake, travel experts in the country say that most of Morocco is “now running as usual,” outside of the Atlas Mountains and the Marrakech medina.
The earthquake, which had an epicenter in the High Atlas mountain range about 72 miles southwest of Marrakech, was the deadliest in Morocco in over 60 years.
However, Intrepid Travel‘s Morocco-based managing director, Zina Benchiekh, told CNN that “transport including trains and other services” continue to “operate as usual, including airports.”
CNN’s Ivana Kottosová advised against traveling to the High Atlas Mountains and reported that some parts of Marrakech’s famous medina, or old town, are “barely recognizable.” However, cities like Casablanca and Fez have been largely unaffected.
As of Monday, all historical monuments in Marrakech have been closed until further notice including the Bahia Palace, El Badi Palace, and Saadian Tombs.
Private museums, galleries, and the city’s famous open-air markets have reopened according to AFP News. Though some hotels in the Marrakech medina have closed due to structural damage, the vast majority are open.
Marrakech-based hotel owner Vanessa Branson told CNN, “The city is busy with the cleanup operation in progress, and though the buildings and people will bear the scars for a long time to come, the city is shaken, not stirred. The mountains will obviously take a little longer to recover.”
“None of the northern part was affected by the earthquake, all the roads between the cities are operating as usual,” Fez-based tour guide Meryem Ameziane told CNN. “We are at the beginning of high season for tourism and we are all praying that business will continue as usual.”
The U.S. State Department does not have a travel advisory in place for Morocco. Travelers are encouraged to check with their specific airline, tour operator, or place of accommodation for updated policies.
Featured image from Pexels.com.
