FEZ, Morocco — A devastating structural failure occurred overnight in the historic city of Fez when two adjacent four-story buildings completely collapsed, resulting in 22 fatalities and 16 injuries according to official reports. The tragedy marks the second major building collapse in this Moroccan urban center within a single year, raising urgent questions about urban infrastructure safety.
The collapsed residential structures, constructed in 2006 under Morocco’s ‘City Without Slums’ initiative, housed eight families according to the state news agency MAP. Emergency responders evacuated the surrounding neighborhood while continuing search and rescue operations amid uncertainty about how many residents might remain trapped beneath the rubble.
While initial reports indicate the buildings were originally constructed to code, local news outlet Hespress revealed that unauthorized additional floors had been added to both structures. This modification potentially contributed to the catastrophic failure, though authorities have opened a formal investigation to determine the exact cause.
The incident highlights the persistent challenge of infrastructure inequality in Morocco’s rapidly growing urban centers. Fez, while renowned for its medieval walled city and selection as a host city for both the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations and 2030 FIFA World Cup, simultaneously struggles with aging buildings and inadequate enforcement of construction regulations.
This tragedy echoes a similar collapse in May that killed 10 people in Fez, despite that building having been marked for evacuation. The recurring nature of such incidents has intensified public criticism of infrastructure investment priorities, particularly after nationwide protests earlier this year highlighted concerns about stadium investments taking precedence over essential services including healthcare, education, and building safety.