At least 22 people have died and 16 others have sustained injuries following the collapse of two buildings in Fez, one of Morocco’s oldest cities. The incident occurred overnight on October 25, 2023, with the Fez prosecutor confirming that one of the buildings was unoccupied. The second building was hosting an Aqiqah, a traditional Muslim celebration marking the birth of a child.
The prosecutor’s statement indicated that the death toll was preliminary and a formal investigation has been launched. Local authorities reported that eight families resided in the building where the celebration took place. Both structures were four stories high and had shown cracks prior to the collapse, according to state television reports.
Survivor Accounts and Rescue Efforts
A survivor, who tragically lost his wife and three children, spoke to local Medi1 TV, stating that rescuers had managed to retrieve one body, while he awaited news of the others. Footage from the state-owned broadcaster SNRT News revealed rescue workers and residents digging through the rubble in search of survivors.
An eyewitness described the chaos as she recounted the moment the buildings began to fall. “My son who lives upstairs told me the building is coming down. When we went out, we saw the building collapsing,” she told SNRT News.
Witnesses in the densely populated Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood indicated that the buildings displayed signs of deterioration for some time. While SNRT News reported on the structural issues, Reuters was unable to independently verify these claims, and the Interior Ministry did not provide a comment when approached.
Context of the Collapse
The tragedy in Fez comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions in Morocco, particularly in light of recent anti-government protests. Two months ago, citizens expressed their frustrations regarding worsening living conditions and inadequate public services.
Adib Ben Ibrahim, Morocco’s housing secretary of state, noted in January that approximately 38,800 buildings nationwide have been classified as at risk of collapse. This incident is one of the worst structural failures in Morocco since the collapse of a minaret in Meknes in 2010, which resulted in 41 fatalities.
The population of Fez, a city with a rich history dating back to the eighth century, is now grappling with the aftermath of this disaster. The city, which is set to host events for both the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the African Cup of Nations, has been under scrutiny for its infrastructure and living conditions, particularly in its poorer neighborhoods.
As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on the human impact of this tragedy and the urgent need for improved safety measures to protect residents in Morocco’s vulnerable structures.
