At least 630 people were killed and more than 350 were left injured after an earthquake struck south of Marrakesh, Morocco.
According to reports, it was the biggest earthquake in the country in more than 120 years, with first responders still searching for survivors.
The 7.2-magnitude earthquake has killed entire families and caused tremors as far away as Portugal.
Witnesses said they heard ‘unbearable screaming and crying’ and saw devastated people desperately searching for their family members under debris.
Tourists in Marrakech told MailOnline that they managed to escape the horrifying tremor and shared how they hid under tables before rushing outside of their hotels.
A Moroccan government official said in a statement that emergency operations are ‘in progress across the country,’ adding the death toll is still expected to rise significantly.
According to the ministry, the most damage happened outside of cities. People in the area shared terrifying videos showing parts of the popular red walls surrounding the old city in Marrakesh destroyed and many buildings reduced to dust.
Some clips show rescue missions and residents helping to free those who got trapped under debris.
The Interior Ministry said in a statement that the earthquake had struck the provinces of Marrakech, Al Haouz, Chichaoua, Azilal, and Taraodant.
Montasir Itri from Asni mountain village near the epicenter said: “Our neighbors are under the rubble and people are working hard to rescue them using available means in the village.”
Mohammed Hassan, a resident in Marrakesh, said: “Houses collapsed, and people were trying to remove rubble by hand, so as to try and rescue people. It took a while for the emergency services to arrive with digging equipment. People were very scared.”
Hamid Afkir, a teacher living near the epicenter, said: “’The earth shook for about twenty seconds. Doors opened and shut by themselves as I rushed downstairs from the second floor of my house. There were aftershocks too.”
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