3OO killed in the earthquake

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.8 has struck central Morocco, killing at least 3OO people, the country’s interior ministry stated.

So far 296 people have died and it has been confirmed.

The epicenter 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). There was a 4.9 aftershock 19 minutes later.

People died in Marrakesh and several areas to the south, the ministry said.