Two Buildings Collapse in Morocco’s Fez, Killing 22
Deadly collapse in historic Fez raises renewed concerns over Morocco’s aging and at-risk buildings.
- Two adjoining buildings in Fez collapsed during the night, killing at least 22 people and injuring 16.
- One building was hosting an Aqiqah ceremony, and witnesses say the structures had shown cracks prior to the collapse.
- Authorities have launched judicial, technical, and administrative investigations as the incident ranks among Morocco’s worst in 15 years.
At least 22 people have died and 16 others were injured overnight after two adjacent buildings collapsed in Fez, one of Morocco’s oldest and most historic cities, local prosecutors confirmed on Wednesday.
According to a statement from the Fez prosecutor’s office, one of the buildings was empty, while the other was hosting an Aqiqah — a traditional celebration marking the birth of a child. Eight families lived in the affected residential block.
Officials described the current death toll as preliminary, noting that a formal investigation has been launched.
Cracks Reported Before the Collapse
A survivor who lost his wife and three children told Medi1 TV that only one body had been retrieved so far, and he was still waiting for news of the others. Footage from state broadcaster SNRT News showed emergency workers and residents digging through debris in search of survivors.
An elderly woman who escaped the collapse said her son alerted her just moments before the structure gave way. Witnesses told SNRT News that the buildings in the Al-Mustaqbal neighbourhood — a densely populated area in western Fez — had shown visible cracking for some time.
Local authorities have initiated both judicial and technical investigations to determine the cause of the collapse. The four-storey structures were built in 2006 under a government programme that helped relocate shantytown residents by providing land for self-built homes.
One of Morocco’s Worst Collapses in Years
Fez, a former imperial capital dating back to the 8th century, recently witnessed public unrest over declining living conditions and inadequate services. Earlier this year, Housing Secretary of State Adib Ben Ibrahim reported that nearly 38,800 buildings nationwide had been classified as being at risk of collapse.
Wednesday’s disaster is among the deadliest in Morocco since a 2010 incident in Meknes, where a falling minaret killed 41 people.
