A wedding celebration in the Moroccan village of Ighil Ntalghoumt saved the lives of its residents when a 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday.
The earthquake killed more than 2,900 people in other parts of the country, but not a single person was killed or seriously injured in Ighil Ntalghoumt.
The earthquake was Morocco's deadliest since 1960. The village of Tikekhte, a few kilometres from Ighil Ntalghoumt, was almost entirely wiped out. Not a single house was left standing and 68 people were killed.
The wedding celebration was being held in an outdoor courtyard when the earthquake struck.
The guests were enjoying traditional music and dancing when the ground began to shake violently.
The walls of the houses in the village collapsed, but the wedding party was spared because they were all gathered in the courtyard, which was the only part of the village that was not damaged.
The bride, Habiba Ajdir, and groom, Mohammed Boudad, were due to be married the following day in Kettou, a nearby village. However, the earthquake forced them to postpone their wedding.
Ajdir was so traumatized by the experience that she did not want to speak to anyone.
Boudad said that he was "overwhelmed with fear" for Ajdir when he heard about the earthquake. He said that he didn't know whether to worry about her village or his own.
The people of Ighil Ntalghoumt are still in need of help. They have lost their homes and belongings, and they are struggling to rebuild their lives.
The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, and aid organizations are working to provide food, water, and shelter to the survivors.
