Numerous people have died after an earthquake near Marrakech, Morocco.

According to official television, a strong 6.8-magnitude earthquake that shook Morocco on Friday night has claimed the lives of more than 800 people. The death toll makes this earthquake the deadliest to strike Morocco in many years.

The High Atlas mountains, which are home to the epicenter, are located around 72 kilometers (44.7 miles) southwest of Marrakech, which has a population of about 840,000. The early 12th-century walls that once surrounded the city have suffered damage.


The worst devastated locations are apparently difficult for rescue teams to access. According to one eyewitness, “we are hoping for miracles from the rubble.”
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was the greatest to strike that region of North Africa in more than 120 years.