Twenty deaths in the collapse of two residential buildings in Morocco
The buildings that collapsed in the city of Fez housed eight families, and it is possible that more victims will be found in the rubble.
BarcelonaAt least 19 people died and 16 others were injured, some seriously, after two residential buildings collapsed in the city of Fez, in central Morocco. The disaster occurred Wednesday night in the Mostaqbal neighborhood when two four-story buildings collapsed, local authorities reported. The death toll is a "preliminary count," according to the same sources, who explained that a total of eight families lived in the two buildings. "After receiving notification of the incident, local and security authorities, as well as Civil Protection personnel, immediately went to the scene to begin search and rescue operations," they reported. Authorities have taken measures to secure the perimeter of the collapsed buildings and evacuate residents from surrounding homes. The injured have been taken to the University Hospital Center of Fez to receive the necessary medical attention, while operations continue to search for any other victims in the rubble.
According to Morocco's public broadcaster, SNRT, the two buildings that collapsed "had long shown signs of cracking, without any effective preventative measures being taken." This has not yet been confirmed by news agencies such as Reuters and EFE.
In October, several cities and towns in Morocco, including Fez, were engulfed in a wave of protests, led by young peopleThe protests against the government are focused on the deteriorating living conditions, the country's deep-rooted poverty, and the lack of public services. Meanwhile, the government is pushing forward with ambitious infrastructure and stadium projects in preparation for the 2030 World Cup.