After the strong earthquake that hit the area of ​​Marrakech and villages in Upper Atas and caused the death of some 3,000 people,The earth shook again this Thursday morning in the central area of ​​Morocco. Specifically, the last large aftershock took place around 7.00 (local time) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) places the origin of the earthquake at a depth of 9.7 kilometers, which would contribute to it also being felt on the surface.

This phenomenon has meant a great loss for Morocco, great material damage and surprised many Spanish tourists who were in the country during the first earthquake. He tourists’ first instinct was to flee the country and because of that, demand for flights departing from the African country increased in a few hours, assuming an increase in fares, before tickets run out.

In this sense, as Marrakech is a popular tourist destination, there will be many people with Contracted trips to travel to the country in the next few daysbut given the destruction of the city and the risk that traveling to the country may entail, it is likely that the passengers are forced to cancel the getaway. For this reason, the OCU asks the Foreign Office to urge the airlines to make things easier for users. However, the Moroccan National Tourist Office (ONMT) promotes that tourist activity in Marrakech continues normally and the airlines They maintain scheduled flights to Marrakech, without providing alternatives to customers.

The organization believes that the seriousness of what happened and the lack of security guarantees are “more than enough reasons for the postponement or cancellation of the trip is considered a cause of force majeure”. They insist that the current situation in Morocco constitutes an extraordinary circumstance of force majeure that should allow users to cancel contracted trips. without facing the penalties that appear in the contracts. Some of the reasons they give to justify it are the uncertainty, lack of guarantees, fear or cancellations of hotel services that may arise as a result of this phenomenon.

It should be noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has spoken out on the matter and has issued some non-binding recommendations to Spanish travelers planning to travel to Morocco. Practical advice is based on staying informed at all times about the situation, following the recommendations of local authorities or checking with the airline if the contracted flight has been affected by the effects of the earthquake and considering the possibility of postponing the trip. However, none of the suggestions offer any real guarantee to tourists and now, The OCU asks for more pressure and measures from the Ministry since, according to them, “it is not something voluntary, but motivated by circumstances”

OCU recommendations

In addition, the OCU has conveyed recommendations to customers who have been forced to cancel their flight:

  • Clearly indicate that the Cancellation is due to force majeure circumstances.
  • Keep all contract documentation, as well as the refusal of the airline to proceed with the cancellation.