At least 296 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck central Morocco, according to a preliminary report from the country’s interior ministry.
The quake – measuring magnitude 6.8 – sent people rushing into the streets in Marrakesh and other cities
Many of the deaths were said to be in hard-to-reach mountain areas – and at least 153 people were injured.
It struck just after 23:00 local time, at a relatively shallow depth 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, according to the US Geological Survey.
Unverified video clips on X (formerly Twitter) show damaged buildings and rubble-strewn streets.
