- Two adjacent buildings collapsed overnight in Fez, Morocco, killing at least 22 people and injuring 16
- One building was hosting an Aqiqah celebration; eight families lived in the structure
- Witnesses reported visible cracks in the buildings prior to the collapse
At least 22 people were killed and 16 others injured overnight when two adjacent buildings collapsed in Fez, one of Morocco’s oldest cities, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
According to the Fez prosecutor, one of the buildings was unoccupied, while the second was hosting an Aqiqah, a traditional Muslim celebration marking the birth of a child. The prosecutor noted that the death toll is preliminary and that an investigation has been launched. Eight families lived in the building where the celebration took place.
A survivor, who lost his wife and three children, told local Medi1 TV that rescuers had recovered one body but he was still awaiting news of the others. Footage from state broadcaster SNRT News showed rescue workers and residents digging through the rubble.
“My son, who lives upstairs, told me the building was coming down. When we went out, we saw it collapse,” an elderly woman wrapped in a blanket told SNRT News.
Witnesses reported that the buildings, located in the densely populated Al-Mustaqbal neighbourhood in the west of the city, had shown visible cracks for some time. In addition to the judicial probe, local authorities have launched a technical and administrative investigation to determine the cause of the collapse.
The four-storey buildings were constructed in 2006 as part of a government program that allowed residents of shantytowns to build their own homes on allocated plots.
Fez, Morocco’s former capital dating back to the eighth century and the country’s third-largest city, experienced a wave of anti-government protests two months ago over deteriorating living conditions and poor public services.
Adib Ben Ibrahim, the housing secretary of state, previously reported that about 38,800 buildings nationwide had been classified as at risk of collapse. Wednesday’s incident is among the deadliest building collapses in Morocco since 2010, when a minaret fell in Meknes, killing 41 people.
Most of Morocco’s population, major financial and industrial centers, and key infrastructure are concentrated in the northwest, while much of the country depends on farming, fisheries, and tourism. Youth-led unrest in October highlighted public frustration over poverty and inadequate services, even as the government invests in major infrastructure and modern stadiums ahead of the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Fez, which will host World Cup matches and this month’s African Cup of Nations, includes some of Morocco’s poorest neighborhoods.
