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19 Dead After Two Four‑Storey Buildings Collapse Overnight in Fez, Morocco

Associated Press|Associated Press
10:06 PM, 12/10/2025
19 Dead After Two Four‑Storey Buildings Collapse Overnight in Fez, Morocco
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)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Two four‑storey residential buildings collapsed overnight in Fez, killing 19 people and injuring 16, officials said. The structures housed eight families; the neighborhood was evacuated and search‑and‑rescue teams remained on site. Fez—host to the Africa Cup of Nations and a 2030 World Cup venue—faces widespread aging infrastructure and concerns about weak enforcement of building codes. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause as rescue operations continue.

Two four‑storey residential buildings collapsed overnight in the Moroccan city of Fez, killing 19 people and injuring 16, authorities said Wednesday. The two structures housed eight families; those injured were taken to a nearby hospital while emergency crews continued search-and-rescue operations amid an evacuation of the surrounding neighborhood.

19 Dead After Two Four‑Storey Buildings Collapse Overnight in Fez, Morocco - Image 1
Rescue workers carry a body to an ambulance after recovering it from the wreckage of two collapsed buildings in Fez, Morocco, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ahmed Alaoui Mrani)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Officials said it was not immediately clear what caused the collapse or how many residents remained unaccounted for early Wednesday. Local authorities and rescue teams were working at the scene as investigators began assessing the site.

19 Dead After Two Four‑Storey Buildings Collapse Overnight in Fez, Morocco - Image 2
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)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Context: Fez, Morocco’s third-largest city, is a cultural hub known for its walled medina, dense medieval souks and traditional tanneries. The city is among the hosts for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations and is slated to be a venue for the 2030 FIFA World Cup. Beyond tourism, many neighborhoods in Fez face chronic infrastructure problems and aging, multifamily housing.

19 Dead After Two Four‑Storey Buildings Collapse Overnight in Fez, Morocco - Image 3
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)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)

In May, a separate building collapse in Fez killed 10 people and injured seven; that structure had already been slated for evacuation, according to the Moroccan outlet Le360. Observers and local media say weak enforcement of building codes and long‑standing gaps in basic services have exacerbated risks in older urban districts and fueled public protests earlier this year, when demonstrators criticized government spending priorities.

Authorities have not released definitive findings on the cause of Wednesday’s collapse. Rescue operations and official investigations were ongoing; officials urged residents in vulnerable buildings to follow evacuation notices and safety guidance.

Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly described Fez as Morocco’s second‑largest city; it is the country’s third most populous city.

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