By Taiwo Ajayi.
A powerful earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountains of Morocco on Friday night, killing at least 296 people and injuring 153. The quake, which had a magnitude of 6.8, was centered 71 kilometers (44 miles) southwest of Marrakesh and was felt in the capital city, Rabat, as well as Casablanca and Essaouira.
The quake struck at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT) and was followed by a 4.9 aftershock 19 minutes later. The epicenter was in a remote area of the mountains, but tremors were felt in several other cities and towns.
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In Marrakesh, the old city was badly damaged, with several buildings collapsing. One resident told Reuters that he saw “buildings moving” and “people all in shock and panic.” Power and phone lines were also down for a time.
The Moroccan government has dispatched rescue teams to the affected areas, but it may take some time to reach the remote mountain villages where the most damage is likely to have occurred.
The earthquake is a major tragedy for Morocco, and the government has declared three days of mourning. The international community has also offered its condolences and assistance
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