A Strong Magnitude 6.8 earthquake leaves 600 dead in Morocco.

The Interior Ministry said initial reports suggested at least 296 people had died and 153 people had been injured.

A local official said most of the deaths were in mountain areas that were hard to reach.

Residents of Marrakesh, the nearest major city to the epicentre, said some buildings had collapsed in the old city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and local television showed pictures of a fallen mosque minaret with rubble lying on smashed cars.