Death toll increase to more than 2,000 in Morocco earthquake

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A magnitude 6.8 quake hit Marrakesh and many towns in Morocco on Friday night.

In remote mountain areas, entire villages are reported to have been flattened.

The death toll has soared to more than 2,000, with a similar number of injured.

According to Africa Center, the epicentre was in the High Atlas Mountains, 71km (44 miles) south-west of Marrakesh – a city with world heritage status which is popular with tourists.

But the tremors were also felt in the capital Rabat, some 350km away, as well as Casablanca, Agadir and Essaouira.

This is Morocco’s deadliest earthquake since Agadir was devastated by a 6.7-magnitude quake in 1960, which killed more than 12,000.

It is also the most powerful to hit Morocco for more than a century.

King Mohammed VI declared three days of national mourning and ordered shelter, food and other help for survivors.