Agadir Commemorates 61 Years Since Devastating 1960 Earthquake

The program of activities that will be carried out as part of this commemoration was unveiled during a press conference. The local authority of Agadir is organizing the event in coordination with the Souss-Massa region and the prefecture of Agadir-Ida Ou Tanane, as well as the ministries, public institutions and civil society.

In a statement to the MAP, Naima Fethaoui, vice-president of the Agadir municipal council in charge of cultural affairs, indicated that since this tragedy, the process of rebuilding the city has been underway. Moreover, the commemoration of this anniversary will serve to highlight the progress made in the city in social, economic and cultural terms, thanks to the leadership of King Mohammed VI. It is in this context that in February 2020, he had presided over the launch ceremony of the 2020-2024 urban development program for Agadir.

The earthquake that devastated the city on February 29, 1960 killed more than 12,000 people and left the city under a pile of rubble and dust. In memory of all the men, women and children who died that day, the festivities began with the annual ritual of supplications and prayers for mercy for the souls of the martyrs at the Yahchach cemetery, in the presence of an imam, a priest and a rabbi. Among the other planned activities, there is a photo-video exhibition as well as an exhibition on architecture in Agadir and awareness workshops for students and educational staff.