At Least 632 Dead in Powerful Morocco Earthquake

The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca. 

RABAT — At least 632 people have died after a powerful earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale struck central Morocco late on Friday, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

The epicentre, with a depth of 18.5 km, was initially determined to be at 31.11 degrees north latitude and 8.44 degrees west longitude, some 70 km southwest of Marrakesh, Xinhua news agency reported.

After the earthquake, residents of Fes, a city in northern Morocco, left their homes and gathered in the streets out of concern for potential aftershocks, a Xinhua correspondent at the city said.

The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca. Many houses collapsed in the cities of Taroudant and Marrakesh, local media reported. 

The quake struck at 11.11 p.m. and videos on social media showed people fleeing on the roads, damaged buildings and rubble-strewn streets.

The tremors were also reportedly felt in the capital Rabat, some 350 km away from the epicentre, as well as the cities of Casablanca and Essaouira. — IANS