Over a thousand killed in earthquake that hit Morocco, casualties recorded in multiple regions

(Patria) - The death toll from the strong earthquake that hit Morocco has risen to 1,037, the country's Ministry of Interior announced. More than 1,200 people were injured in the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains late last night, according to a statement carried by state television.

People ran outside in panic when the earthquake occurred, and 19 minutes later, an aftershock of magnitude 4.9 was recorded, the BBC reported.

Fatalities were recorded in several regions, including the provinces of Al Haouz and Marrakech, as well as the cities of Ouarzazate, Azilal, Chichaoua, and Taroudant.

In Marrakech, residents spent the night outdoors, fearing to return to their homes. In the old part of the city, buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list were damaged. The minaret of a mosque collapsed in Djemaa el-Fna square, in the heart of the old city.

This is the strongest earthquake to hit this North African country in the last hundred years, the National Institute of Geophysics of Morocco announced.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced that the epicenter of the tremor, which occurred shortly after 11 PM local time, was 75 kilometers southeast of Marrakech, at a depth of 18.5 kilometers.

The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Algeria and Mauritania.