Fez: At least 19 people have died and 16 others were injured after two residential buildings collapsed in a crowded neighborhood of Fez late on Tuesday, according to Moroccan state media. Rescue teams continued working through the night to search for survivors under the debris as families waited anxiously nearby.
The four storey buildings were located in the Al Mustaqbal area and were home to eight families. Local reports say children are among the victims, making the tragedy even more painful for the community. The injured were taken to the university hospital in Fez for treatment.
Authorities have opened an investigation into the cause of the collapse. Early findings suggest that the structures may have been expanded without permission, with two additional floors added on top of the original design. This may have weakened the foundations and contributed to the sudden failure.
The disaster has raised growing concerns about the safety of older buildings in the city. Fez has already seen another deadly building collapse earlier this year, and residents say many homes in older neighbourhoods need urgent repairs.
Emergency teams have also evacuated nearby buildings as a precaution and are checking for any further risks in the area. Local officials have promised support for families who lost their homes and loved ones.
Search and recovery operations are expected to continue until all missing people are accounted for. Authorities say more information will be released as the investigation progresses.