Powerful earthquake kills 'at least' 296 in Morocco, govt says

RABAT -- A powerful earthquake struck Morocco's High Atlas mountains late on Friday, killing at least 296 people, destroying buildings and sending residents of major cities rushing from their homes. Graphics: ReutersMorocco's geophysical centre said the quake struck in the Ighil area of the High Atlas with a magnitude of 7.2. The quake struck just after 11 p.m. (2200 GMT). The earthquake is Morocco's deadliest since a 2004 tremor near Al Hoceima in the northern Rif mountains which killed over 600 people. Another Marrakech resident, Brahim Himmi, said he saw ambulances coming out of the old town and many building facades damaged.