At Least 22 Dead as Two Residential Buildings Collapse in Morocco’s Fez

At Least 22 Dead as Two Residential Buildings Collapse in Morocco’s Fez
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At least 22 people were killed and 16 others injured after two residential buildings collapsed in the Moroccan city of Fez early Wednesday, the BBC reported. Local officials told state media that the four-storey structures, which housed eight families, came down in the Al Massira district in the southwestern part of the city.

Moroccan outlets reported that both buildings had shown signs of structural deterioration for years. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse. Search and rescue operations continue, with emergency crews and residents working through the debris to locate survivors.

Nearby buildings have been evacuated as a precaution. State media said one building was unoccupied, while the other was hosting a celebration for the birth of a child when the collapse occurred. Those injured were taken to hospital with varying degrees of harm.

Residents blamed poor construction practices and overcrowding, saying the buildings fell within minutes. Fez has experienced several recent building collapses, amid national concerns over unsafe housing. Earlier this year, the housing minister warned that nearly 14,000 buildings across Morocco face imminent risk of collapse.