International Desk : Morocco's deadliest earthquake killed over 1,000 people, causing widespread damage and sending terrified residents and tourists scrambling to safety in the middle of the night, authorities said Saturday.

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The US Geological Survey reported said The 6.8-magnitude quake struck a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of tourist hotspot Marrakesh.

Strong tremors were also felt in the coastal cities of Rabat, Casablanca and Essaouira.

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It is the strongest-ever quake to hit the North African kingdom, and one expert described it as the region's "biggest in more than 120 years."

Bill McGuire, professor emeritus at Britain's University College London, said where destructive earthquakes are rare, buildings are simply not constructed robustly enough... so many collapse, resulting in high casualties.

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Updated interior ministry figures on Saturday showed the quake killed at least 1,037 people, the vast majority in Al-Haouz, the epicentre, and Taroudant provinces. Another 1,204 people were injured, including 721 in a critical condition, the ministry said.

The ministry also recorded deaths in Ouarzazate, Chichaoua, Azilal and Youssoufia provinces, as well as in Marrakesh, Agadir and the Casablanca area.

The interior ministry said authorities have "mobilised all the necessary resources to intervene and help the affected areas."

Sun News/MR

Morocco earthquake killed magnitude tremors

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