Death toll rises to 820 after powerful earthquake hits Morocco

Update 1:  The death toll from the powerful earthquake that rocked Morocco is rising dramatically, with state television reporting 1,037 dead.

More than 800 people have died and hundreds more are injured after a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Morocco. The number of dead is expected to rise as rescuers dig through rubble and attempt to reach remote villages.

At least 820 people have been killed and hundreds injured following a 6.8 magnitude earthquake in Morocco, state TV says.

Many of the fatalities are in hard-to-reach areas south of Marrakech.

The epicentre was high in the Atlas Mountains - about 43 miles (70km) away from Marrakech, a popular tourist destination.

Reaching people in remote villages, where old, traditional buildings may be more likely to collapse, will be a key focus of the rescue effort on Saturday.