At least 632 killed after powerful earthquake jolts Morocco

A powerful earthquake struck Morocco's High Atlas Mountains late on Friday, killing at least 632 people, local media reported citing the Interior Ministry, destroying buildings and sending residents of major cities rushing from their homes. The 6.8-magnitude quake struck 72 kilometres southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 11:11 pm local time, the US Geological Survey reported.

Residents of Marrakech, the nearest big city to the epicenter, said some buildings had collapsed in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The earthquake was felt in many cities across Morocco, including Rabat and Casablanca, the largest city in the North African country.