The death toll from the powerful 7-magnitude earthquake that hit Morocco late Friday night is rising dramatically. According to the latest count, the dead amount to at least 650 and the wounded exceed 300.

The earthquake occurred shortly after 23:00 (local time, 01:00 Greek time) and had a magnitude of 6.9, according to the Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Center (EMSC). However, the National Center for Scientific and Technical Research (CNRST), with based in Rabat, estimated that the earthquake had a magnitude of 7 and its epicenter was in al-Hawz province, southwest of the tourist city of Marrakesh.

As reported by Moroccan media, this is the strongest earthquake that has hit the country to date, while it was also felt in other African countries, such as Mauritania and Algeria, as well as in the southern part of Portugal and Spain.