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Morocco mosque collapse kills 11 Morocco minaret fall kills many
(about 1 hour later)
At least 11 people have been killed after a mosque minaret collapsed in the central Moroccan town of Meknes, the interior ministry says. Unconfirmed reports from Morocco say 32 people were killed when a minaret collapsed at a mosque in the central Moroccan town of Meknes.
Dozens of people were injured in the accident at the Berdieyinne mosque in Meknes' old city during Friday prayers. More than 60 people were injured in the accident at the Berdieyinne mosque in Meknes' old city during Friday prayers, according to Moroccan state television.
A doctor at the scene told Reuters news agency he had counted 13 corpses as they were being pulled out by rescuers. The TV report said that the collapse came after heavy rains which lashed the region for several days.
Up to 80 people were reportedly trapped beneath the rubble. The minaret is said to have been four centuries old. The minaret is said to have been four centuries old.
A doctor at the scene told Reuters news agency he had counted 13 bodies as they were being pulled out by rescuers.
Many people are said to be buried under the rubble of the collapsed tower.
A local resident, Khaled Rahmouni, told Reuters that about 300 worshippers had gathered inside the mosque for Friday afternoon prayers.A local resident, Khaled Rahmouni, told Reuters that about 300 worshippers had gathered inside the mosque for Friday afternoon prayers.
"When the imam was about to start his sermon, the minaret went down," he said. "When the imam was about to start his sermon, the minaret fell down," he said.
Moroccan television added that the interior and religious affairs ministers had visited the site to supervise rescue operations.
The officials visited the injured, who had been taken to hospitals in Meknes and the nearby city of Fez.
Observers say that while neglected buildings in the old quarters of Morocco's cities collapse fairly often, the fall of a minaret is rare.Observers say that while neglected buildings in the old quarters of Morocco's cities collapse fairly often, the fall of a minaret is rare.