Rabat: A 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck Morocco on Friday night, killing 34 people and injuring hundreds, government officials said.
The US Geological Survey said that the epicentre of the earthquake was recorded 18 km from the ground at a distance of 71 km southwest of Marrakech.
Local media reported that 28 people were killed in the tourist city of Marrakech and six in Ouarzazate province.
Hundreds of people were injured in the incident. Many people are trapped under the debris of houses and buildings and rescue operations are going on in full swing. Moroccan police said the death toll is likely to rise.
Videos captured during the earthquake are circulating on social media.
The southwestern part of Marrakech is an earthquake-prone region. In 2004, 628 people died in an earthquake in northeastern Morocco.
