19 killed in building collapse in Morocco's third-largest city
[December 10, 2025]
FEZ, Morocco (AP) — Two four-story buildings collapsed overnight
in the Moroccan city of Fez, killing 19 people in the second fatal
collapse there this year, authorities said on Wednesday.
Morocco's state news agency reported the two residential buildings
housed eight families. Sixteen people were injured in the collapse and
sent for treatment at a nearby hospital. Authorities said the
neighborhood had been evacuated and search and rescue efforts were
ongoing.
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Rescue workers and residents search for survivors amid the wreckage of
two collapsed buildings in Fez, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP
Photo/Ahmed Alaoui Mrani) |
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It was unclear what caused the collapse or how many people were
unaccounted for on Wednesday morning.
Fez is Morocco’s third-largest city and one of the hosts of this
month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup. It is
best known for its walled city packed with medieval souks and
tanneries. But beyond tourism, it’s also one of the country’s
poorest urban centers, where aging infrastructure is common in
many neighborhoods.
Another collapse in May killed 10 people and injured seven in a
building that had already been slated for evacuation, according
to Moroccan outlet Le360.
Building codes are often not enforced in Morocco, especially in
ancient cities where aging multifamily homes are common. Gaps in
basic services were a focal point of protests that swept the
country earlier this year, with demonstrators criticizing the
government for investing in new stadiums instead of addressing
inequality in health care, education and other public services.
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