Morocco earthquake death toll rises to over 2000
The death toll from a powerful earthquake in Morocco has soared to more than 2,000, with a similar number of injured.
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The interior ministry says more than 1,400 have serious injuries, and the heaviest casualties are in provinces just south of Marrakesh.
King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning and ordered shelter, food and other help for survivors.
Many people are spending a second night out in the open.
The magnitude 6.8 quake hit Marrakesh and many towns on Friday night. In remote mountain areas, entire villages are reported to have been flattened.
The epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, at a depth of 18.5km, the US Geological Survey said.
The quake struck at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT) on Friday. There was a 4.9 aftershock 19 minutes later.
People died in Marrakesh and several areas to the south, the ministry said.
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The interior ministry said the earthquake killed people in the provinces and municipalities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant, adding that at least 329 people have been injured.
- At least 2000 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck central Morocco, according to 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/
