Morocco’s National Seismic Monitoring and Alert Center said an earthquake of magnitude 6.8 has struck Ighil area in central Morocco, killing at least 296 persons.
It further stated that the epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km south-west of Marrakesh, at a depth of 18.5km.
A 4.9 aftershock followed 19 minutes after the quake struck at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT).
“According to a provisional report, the earthquake killed 296 people in the provinces and municipalities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant,” the statement said.
At least 153 people who were injured have been hospitalised.
Moroccans posted clips showing buildings reduced to rubble and dust, and parts of the famous red walls that surround the old city in Marrakech, a UNESCO World Heritage site, damaged.
Many tourists and other residents posted videos of people screaming and evacuating restaurants in the city.
Several residents in Marrakesh stayed outside their homes in case the city is rocked by powerful aftershocks.
One resident, Abdelhak El Amrani told the AFP agency that “People were all in shock and panic. The children were crying and the parents were distraught,”
He said power and phone lines were down for some minutes.
Morocco’s geophysical centre is not expecting anymore secondary aftershocks so far.