Ronaldo opens Marrakech hotel to aid quake victims

Hotel management have since refuted the claims that the business if open to survivors

Cristiano Ronaldo of Al Nassr warms up ahead of the Arab Club Champions Cup Group C match between Al Nassr and Al Shabab at King Fahd Sports City in Taif, Saudi Arabia on July 28, 2023. [Stringer – Anadolu Agency]

Renowned Portuguese football star, Cristiano Ronaldo, has opened his Hotel Pestana CR7, on the outskirts of Marrakech, to those affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Morocco.

Spanish Marca news site said Ronaldo has asked the private company operating his four-star hotel to provide refuge to those in need.

At least 2,122 people were killed and 2,421 others injured when a magnitude-7 earthquake struck Morocco late on Friday, according to the Interior Ministry.

The hotel’s operations manager has, however, expressed great surprise at the reports saying the hotel is not a shelter for those made homeless by the earthquake, YNet News reported.

On Saturday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) agreed to postpone the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Qualifier match between Morocco and Liberia following the earthquake.

“There will be a moment of silence before the start of all the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Côte d’Ivoire 2023 Qualifier matches on Saturday 9 September and Sunday 10 September 2023 to acknowledge and honour the people who lost their lives during the tragedy in Morocco,” a CAF statement said.

Read: Algeria offers emergency aid to quake-hit Morocco

NB This article was updated on 12 September 2023 at 09.07am GMT to add that he hotel was refuting the claims that it was open to earthquake survivors.

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