Powerful earthquake kills at least 296 people in Morocco
At least 296 people have been killed following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, officials have said.
Many of the fatalities are said to be in hard-to-reach areas south of Marrakech.
The earthquake struck late on Friday - damaging buildings in major cities and sending panicked people pouring into the streets.
At least 153 people were injured and are being treated in hospital
.
Witnesses in Marrakech told the Reuters news agency that some
buildings have collapsed, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Big
cracks were seen in a section of the medieval city's walls.
Local
television stations broadcast pictures of a fallen mosque minaret, with
rubble lying on smashed cars. Others were seen screaming as they ran out
of shopping centres and restaurants.
Officials are working to clear roads so ambulances and aid can reach
those affected - but large distances between mountain villages mean it
will take time to learn the full extent of the damage.
Montasir
Itri, a resident in the mountain village of Asni not far from the
epicentre, said most houses were damaged - adding: "Our neighbours are
under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using
available means in the village."
Aftershocks have been reported - with men, women and children staying out in the streets, frightened of further quakes.
According
to the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was high in the Atlas
Mountains - about 43 miles (70km) away from Marrakech, a popular tourist
destination.
The USGS added that it was at a relatively shallow depth of 11.5 miles (18km).
This
is one of Morocco's strongest earthquakes in years - and although they
are relatively rare, a 5.8 magnitude tremor in 1960 caused thousands of
deaths.
It was felt as far away as Portugal and Algeria.
