In brief
In a tragic incident in the city of Fez, Morocco, two dilapidated buildings collapsed early Wednesday, resulting in at least 22 deaths and numerous injuries among the residents. The buildings had displayed signs of deterioration for years. Emergency services are currently involved in search operations as nearby residents are evacuated for safety. This incident adds to a concerning trend of building collapses in the city, raising alarms about structural safety in the area.
At least 22 people have been killed and a further 16 injured after two buildings collapsed in the Moroccan city of Fez.
The two four-storey residential buildings that came down early on Wednesday morning contained eight families, state media report, citing local officials.
Several Moroccan news outlets report that the buildings - located in the south-westerly Al Massira suburb of the new part of the city - had shown signs of deterioration for several years.
Fez, in north-eastern Morocco, is one of the North African nation's oldest cities, with parts dating back to the 8th Century, as well as being its third-most populous.
A search and rescue operation is ongoing to find anyone who may still be trapped under the rubble. Footage from the scene shows people and diggers sifting through the debris under the cover of darkness.
In one clip, published by news site Akhbarona, a body can be seen being carried away on a stretcher by emergency services.
Residents of nearby buildings have been evacuated as a preventative measure, state media report.
Those taken to hospital suffered varying injuries.
Nine were killed when a condemned building collapsed in a different neighbourhood of Fez in May.
Prior to that, five people were killed when a house in the old city crumbled in February 2024, following heavy rain and strong winds.
