Palestine sending rescuers to Morocco after deadly earthquake hits

The Palestinian Authority is sending rescuers to Morocco, where an earthquake has killed over 1,000 people.

The 6.8-magnitude quake struck a mountainous area 72 kilometres (45 miles) southwest of the tourist hotspot Marrakesh at 23:11 local time (22:11 GMT) on Friday, the US Geological Survey said.

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

"President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh to dispatch rescue, relief and civil defence teams to Morocco to provide all possible aid to the victims," the official Wafa news agency reported.

"President Abbas has also expressed his heartfelt condolences to the people of Morocco and their leadership, affirming that the Palestinian people stand in solidarity with their Moroccan brothers and sisters during this difficult time."

The earthquake, which has caused widespread damage, is the strongest to hit Morocco in decades, with one expert describing it as the region's "biggest in more than 120 years".

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.