orocco state tv is reporting that greater than 600 individuals have died in a robust earthquake that struck the High Atlas mountains late on Friday.

An extra 329 persons are reported to be injured within the quake that destroyed buildings and despatched residents dashing from their properties because it struck simply after 11pm (10pm GMT).

Morocco’s state tv cited the inside minister as saying at the least 632 individuals had died, with the dying toll anticipated to rise as rescuers choose by the rubble on Saturday and work to achieve distant areas.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly mentioned the UK is supporting British nationals within the area.

“We stand ready to help our Moroccan friends in whatever way we can,” he wrote on social media website X.

Read More

Residents of Marrakech, the closest huge metropolis to the epicentre, mentioned some buildings had collapsed within the outdated metropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage website.

In Marrakech, the well-known Koutoubia Mosque, constructed within the twelfth century, suffered harm, however the extent was not instantly clear.

Its 69-metre (226-foot) minaret is called the “roof of Marrakech.” Moroccans additionally posted movies displaying harm to elements of the well-known purple partitions that encompass the outdated metropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage website.

Morocco’s geophysical centre mentioned the quake struck within the Ighil space of the High Atlas with a magnitude of seven.2.

The US Geological Survey put the quake’s magnitude at 6.8 and mentioned it was at a comparatively shallow depth of 18.5km (11.5 miles).

Local tv confirmed footage of a fallen mosque minaret with rubble mendacity on smashed vehicles.

The Interior Ministry urged calm, saying in its televised assertion on the dying toll that the quake had hit the provinces of Al Haouz, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant.

The head of a city close to the earthquake’s epicentre informed Moroccan news website 2M that a number of properties in close by cities had partly or completely collapsed, and electrical energy and roads have been reduce off in some locations.

Abderrahim Ait Daoud, head of the city of Talat N’Yaaqoub, mentioned authorities are working to clear roads in Al Haouz Province to permit passage for ambulances, however mentioned giant distances between mountain villages imply it is going to take time to study the extent of the harm.

The Moroccan navy and emergency providers mobilised help efforts to the areas hit by damages, native media reported that roads resulting in the mountain area across the epicentre have been jammed with automobiles and blocked with collapsed rocks, slowing rescue efforts.

Trucks loaded with blankets, camp cots and lighting gear have been headed to the area, the official news company MAP reported.

Montasir Itri, a resident of the mountain village of Asni close to the epicentre, mentioned most homes there have been broken.

“Our neighbours are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village,” he mentioned.

Further west, close to Taroudant, instructor Hamid Afkar mentioned he had fled his house and felt aftershocks.

“The earth shook for about 20 seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor,” he mentioned.

The earthquake is Morocco’s deadliest since a 2004 tremor close to Al Hoceima within the northern Rif mountains killed over 600 individuals.

The United Nations stood prepared to assist the Moroccan authorities in “its efforts to assist the impacted population”, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric mentioned in a press release.

In Marrakech, some homes within the tightly packed outdated metropolis had collapsed and other people have been working onerous by hand to take away particles whereas they waited for heavy gear, mentioned resident Id Waaziz Hassan.

Another Marrakech resident, Brahim Himmi, mentioned he noticed ambulances popping out of the outdated city and plenty of constructing facades broken. He mentioned individuals have been frightened and have been staying exterior in case of one other quake.

“The chandelier fell from the ceiling and I ran out. I’m still in the road with my children and we’re scared,” mentioned Houda Hafsi, 43, in Marrakech.

People within the capital metropolis of Rabat, about 350 km north of Ighil, and within the coastal city of Imsouane, about 180 km to its west, additionally fled their properties, fearing a stronger quake, in accordance with Reuters witnesses.

In Casablanca, some 250 km north of Ighil, individuals who spent the night time within the streets have been too scared to return to their properties.

“The house rocked aggressively, everyone was scared,” mentioned resident Mohamed Taqafi.

“I thought it was only my house that was moving because it’s fragile and old. I heard people screaming, everyone went out of their houses.”