At least 22 people have died and 16 others sustained injuries after the collapse of two adjacent buildings in Fez, one of Morocco’s oldest cities. The incident occurred overnight, with one building unoccupied and the other hosting an Aqiqah, a traditional Muslim celebration marking the birth of a child, according to the local prosecutor’s statement on Wednesday.
The prosecutor reported that the death toll is preliminary, and an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse. Local authorities indicated that eight families resided in the building where the celebration was taking place. Both structures were four stories tall and had previously exhibited signs of structural weakness.
Witness Accounts and Rescue Efforts
Desperate rescue operations have been underway, with footage from state-owned broadcaster SNRT News showing workers and residents digging through the rubble. A survivor, who tragically lost his wife and three children, shared with local media that rescuers had retrieved one body but he was anxiously awaiting news about the others.
“My son who lives upstairs told me the building is coming down. When we went out, we saw the building collapsing,” recounted a woman wrapped in a blanket, highlighting the panic experienced during the disaster. Witnesses reported that the buildings, located in the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood, had shown cracks for some time, raising concerns about their stability.
Context of Deteriorating Conditions
Fez, once the capital of Morocco and dating back to the eighth century, is the country’s third-most populous city. Recent months have seen a surge in public unrest over deteriorating living conditions and inadequate public services, particularly among the youth. In January, Adib Ben Ibrahim, the housing secretary of state, noted that approximately 38,800 buildings nationwide had been classified as at risk of collapse.
This incident marks one of the most significant building collapses in Morocco since a minaret fell in the historic city of Meknes in 2010, resulting in the deaths of 41 people. As Morocco prepares for upcoming events such as the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations, the juxtaposition of ambitious infrastructure projects against the backdrop of poverty and inadequate services has fueled public discontent.
The concentration of Morocco’s economic and industrial activities in the northwest contrasts sharply with the reliance of other regions on agriculture, fisheries, and tourism. The tragedy in Fez has underscored the urgent need for improved building regulations and better living conditions, particularly in the city’s impoverished neighborhoods.
