When the Moroccan child Suleiman Ait Nasr (7 years old) fell asleep in the living room, his father moved him to his bedroom to ensure he would rest well before heading to school in the morning. While he slept, the roof of their house collapsed due to the powerful earthquake that struck Morocco. Ibrahim (41), Suleiman's father, was praying when the earthquake, measuring 6.8 in magnitude, hit their small village on the outskirts of Tallet Yacoub, one of the areas most affected by the disaster that claimed the lives of over 2,500 people in Morocco.
Ibrahim said he struggled to gather his family. His two older sons, who were upstairs, had to climb onto the collapsed kitchen roof to reach their parents and their cousin, whom Ibrahim raises alongside his own children. But no one was able to reach Suleiman. His wife asked him to listen for any sound indicating that their son was still alive. When he heard no sound among the rubble, Ibrahim realized then, as he put it, that his son had died. Suleiman's body was later retrieved with the help of family members.
Ibrahim, grieving, said his son is gone, and he thanks God that his other two sons are still alive. Moaz (20), Suleiman's brother, wiped away tears as he spoke about the tragedy, standing in what was once the living room. He described Suleiman as a cheerful child who loved nature. Many houses in the village, located about 72 kilometers south of Marrakech in the High Atlas Mountains near the earthquake's epicenter, were destroyed. Rocks blocked the roads, making it difficult for rescue workers to access the area. Heavy machinery was used to clear the roads, but subsequent landslides closed them again.
Ibrahim said he helped rescue six neighbors trapped under the rubble due to the earthquake and retrieved several bodies. He added that many people in the village were killed. He mentioned there is much suffering, but he continued to thank God for everything and believes that God is capable of restoring everything once again, explaining that he has not lost hope. Ibrahim, who moved to the village in 2000, intends to stay there and rebuild. He called on authorities and charities to help them rebuild their lives. Today, the Moroccan army briefly surveyed Ibrahim's village to assess the extent of the damage while helicopters flew overhead.
