INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
epicentre 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.The ministry said the
earthquake killed people in the provinces and municipalities of al-Haouz, Marrakesh, Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua and Taroudant, adding
that at least 329 people have been injured.Unverified video clips on social media show damaged buildings, other buildings shaking and
People are seen fleeing in alarm and some walking through clouds of dust.There are also reports of families trapped under the rubble of
Hospitals in the city have seen an influx of injured people, and the authorities have called on residents to donate blood.Some buildings in
the old city have collapsed, one resident told the Reuters news agency
Several clips on X show buildings crashing down, but the BBC has not identified where they were.Locals are said to have decided to stay
for 10 minutes.AFP also reported that one family was trapped in the collapsed rubble of a house - and that a number of people in Marrakesh
reportedly felt in the capital Rabat, some 350km away, as well as Casablanca and Essaouira.Simple buildings in mountain villages near the
epicentre may not have survived and, being remote, it may take some time to determine casualties there.Source: BBC
-Agencies
