Two four-story buildings collapsed overnight in the Moroccan city of Fez, killing 19 people, authorities said Wednesday. It is the second fatal collapse there this year.
PHOTO Video capture X / World News @ferozwala
Morocco's state news agency reported that the two residential buildings housed eight families. Sixteen people were injured and taken to a nearby hospital. Authorities have evacuated the neighborhood and search and rescue operations are underway.
It was not clear what caused the collapse or how many people were missing Wednesday morning, reports AFP.
Source: X / World News @ferozwala
Fez is Morocco's third largest city and one of the hosts of this month's Africa Cup of Nations as well as the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It is best known for its old town with its medieval bazaars and tanneries. Beyond tourism, however, it is also one of the country's poorest urban centers, where old infrastructure affects many neighborhoods.
Source: X / World News @ferozwala
Another collapse in May killed 10 people and injured seven others in a building that had already been scheduled for evacuation, according to Moroccan publication Le360.
Building codes are often unenforced in Morocco, especially in historic cities where old multi-family buildings are common. Shortages in public services were at the heart of protests that rocked the country earlier this year, with demonstrators criticizing the government for investing in new stadiums instead of tackling inequalities in health, education and other public services.
