The epicentre was in a remote mountainous region south-west of Marrakesh, where entire villages have been flattened.

BBC correspondent Nick Beake reached one village where he found an elderly woman wailing after 18 bodies were recovered in a single place.

The epicentre was In a remote mountainous region south-west of Marrakesh, where entire villages have been flattened.

The Moroccan army has cleared one of the main roads to the worst-affected areas, allowing vital assistance to reach people.

BBC correspondent Nick Beake reached one village where he found an elderly woman wailing after 18 bodies were recovered in a single place.

There was also significant damage in the popular tourist city of Marrakesh, and tremors were felt in the capital Rabat and in Casablanca.

Fearing aftershocks, many Moroccans have opted to stay outdoors for a second night, sleeping on the streets. (BBC)

•Rescuers are scrambling to find survivors under the rubble after a huge earthquake which killed more than 2,000 people.