Two buildings collapse in Fez, several killed
Two four-story buildings in Fez, Morocco, collapsed overnight, killing 19 people in the second deadly collapse this year, officials said Wednesday.
Morocco’s state news agency reported that two residential buildings housed eight families. 16 people were injured during the collapse and were sent to a nearby hospital for treatment. Authorities reported that the neighborhood was evacuated and search and rescue efforts were continuing.
Buildings turned into piles of rubble.Credit: access point
It was unclear what caused the collapse or how many people were missing Wednesday morning.
Fez is Morocco’s second largest city and one of the hosts of this month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It is best known for its walled city filled with medieval bazaars and tanneries. But beyond tourism, it is also one of the poorest urban centers in the country, where aging infrastructure is common.
Another collapse in May killed 10 people and injured seven others in a building that was scheduled to be evacuated, according to a report by Moroccan Le360 channel.
Rescue teams and residents are searching for survivors among the rubble of two collapsed buildings.Credit: access point
Building codes are often not enforced in Morocco, especially in ancient cities where aging multi-family homes are common.
Shortages in basic services were the focus of protests that swept the country earlier this year; Demonstrators criticized the government for investing in new stadiums rather than addressing inequality in health, education and other public services.
