FEZ, Morocco — A condemned residential building collapsed in the northern Moroccan city of Fez, killing nine people and injuring seven others, local authorities said Friday, prompting renewed scrutiny over enforcement of safety regulations in older urban structures.
The multi-story building, located in the densely populated Al-Hassani district, came crashing down late Thursday night. According to a local government spokesperson, several of the injured sustained serious wounds, and a search-and-rescue operation remained ongoing Friday for any possible survivors trapped under the rubble.
In a statement provided to Agence France-Presse, officials confirmed the building had previously been classified as structurally unsound and marked as at risk of imminent collapse. Authorities had issued an evacuation order to its tenants prior to the incident, though it remains unclear how many residents were still inside at the time.
As a precaution, neighboring homes have been evacuated, and emergency personnel continue to assess the structural safety of surrounding buildings.
The collapse has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Morocco’s urban safety protocols, particularly in aging districts where infrastructure is often neglected or left to deteriorate despite official warnings.
Fez, a historic city and UNESCO World Heritage site, includes a mix of ancient architecture and densely packed residential neighborhoods, some of which face growing pressure from unregulated development and a lack of modernization.
Officials have not yet released the identities of the victims. An investigation into the cause of the collapse and compliance with the evacuation order is underway.
