Building Collapse in Morocco’s Historic City of Fez Kills 19

At least 19 people have died and 16 others were injured after two adjacent four-story buildings collapsed in the ancient city of Fez, Morocco, early Wednesday morning.

State media reported that the buildings, located in the Al-Mustaqbal area, had been neglected for years and showed visible cracks before the disaster. Eight families were living inside at the time of the collapse.

Local authorities, security forces, and civil protection teams rushed to the site and launched search and rescue operations immediately after the incident. Fez, founded in the eighth century, is Morocco’s third-largest city by population.

The tragedy comes just two months after residents staged protests against deteriorating living conditions and inadequate public services. State media noted that despite warnings about the risk of collapse, preventive measures were not taken by local officials.

International outlets reported they could not independently verify the extent of the damage, and Morocco’s Interior Ministry has yet to issue an official statement.