Morocco Earthquake: Gambia Coach Tom Saintfiet ‘Terrified’ As Huge Earthquake Kills Hundred1 min read
The Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet said he feared a plane had crashed into his hotel after experiencing Friday’s devastating Morocco earthquake.
The Belgian and his team are in Marrakesh for Sunday’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Congo.
The country’s interior minister said more than 820 people have died as a result of the quake.
Measuring magnitude 6.8, it sent people rushing into the streets in Marrakesh and other cities.
Saintfiet described the experience as “shocking and terrible”.
“At first I heard a lot of noise and thought it was someone knocking on my door, ” he told BBC World Service’s Mani Djazmi.
“A few seconds later I thought that a plane had crashed into the hotel because we’re close to the airport but a second or two later, I knew it was an earthquake.
“It seems it was only 30 seconds but it felt endless. It was really scary. The walls were really shaking and things were falling down from the ceiling and the walls. I never in my life saw a building moving like that.
