Work On New Agadir Begins

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29246, 2 July 1960, Page 13

Work On New Agadir Begins

I (Rec. 10 p.m.) AGADIR, July 1. ; Work began yesterday on the | rebuilding of Agadir, the Moroc- , can city where about 12,000 per- ; sons were killed when it was i destroyed by an earthquake in ; February. King Mohammed V began the | work by laying the foundation 1 stones of several building pro- , jects Which will cost £3,213.000. said American Associated Press. ; The city was almost completely ; destroyed on February 29 in a | 12-second earthquake in which, i apart from the 12.000 dead, some ■ 15.000 others were made homeless. • The King said he came to Aga- i dir to “raise it from Its ruins and heal its wounds.” He laid the ; foundation stones of housing pro- i jects, a hospital, administrative i

buildings, a market, a mosque and a radio station. Two thousand survivors, who ' have been in tents since the dis- ■ aster, will be housed In shelters’ * provided by the United Stated - Army until 835 permanent homes are built for them and 1000: slightly damaged buildings re»n paired. - Moroccan Army and youth.. groups will shift more than 100Qtons of rubble a day, according public works officials. The new Agadir will be Just two miles south of the old site. and.“ authorities said a United Statesplanning expert will submit an'; over-all plan for the new city, which the King said “will have . wide avenues, pleasant gardens ’ and abundant lighting.” The harbour will be separated " from the new city by a “no-' man’s” land, where the greatest" damage was caused. •