Virgin Limited Edition has closed its Kasbah Tamadot property to inspect the damage caused by Morocco’s most deadly earthquake for more than 60 years.
The Sir Richard Branson-owned company said all of the hotel’s staff and guests are safe, but the Atlas Mountains site has been temporarily shut.
A Virgin Limited Edition spokesperson said: “Our primary concern at this time is ensuring the safety and welfare of our team, their families and our guests, as well as the local communities.”
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The company highlighted that the Morocco Earthquake Response Fund has been set up by the Eve Branson Foundation to help the affected communities in the Atlas Mountains.
A total of £117,709 had been raised by 3.22pm on Monday, September 11, coming from a total of 549 donations.
The spokesperson for Virgin Limited Edition said: “As ever, our communities remain an incredibly important part of the Kasbah Tamadot family and our teams, despite many losing their homes themselves, have been delivering water and food supplies to local villages.”
The spokesperson added: “For those guests who are now unable to stay at Kasbah Tamadot, we have offered alternatives at our other properties including Son Bunyola, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve, Mahali Mzuri, Mont Rochelle, The Lodge, Necker Island, as well as Virgin Voyages.”
Meanwhile, British brothers Mike and Chris McHugo, who own Kasbah du Toubkal in Imlil, have shut the property until further notice after it suffered “some damage”.
The brothers were among those at the accommodation at the time of the earthquake, according to the hotel’s website, but they and their staff and guests were unharmed.
The website’s statement said: “The earthquake that hit Morocco is a major national disaster and our thoughts go out to the many who have lost friends and family.
“Whilst our Kasbah du Toubkal was close to the epicentre and has suffered some damage, we are pleased to let you know that all our staff and guests are safe and unhurt and have now left the Kasbah.
“The Kasbah is closed until further notice.
“There is no electricity, phone or internet and the road to Imlil is currently closed but there is hope this will reopen on Sunday. We currently have very limited telecommunications with Imlil.”
The death toll was recorded as 2,497 on Monday morning (September 11). The earthquake was the most deadly since 1960, when at least 12,000 were killed.
Among the organisations running fundraisers are Intrepid, The Charitable Travel Fund and The Tui Care Foundation.
Photo: Kasbah Tamadot (Virgin Limited Edition website)