At least nine people have been killed and several others injured after a residential building collapsed in the Moroccan city of Fes, reviving concerns over structural safety in one of the country’s largest urban centers.
The five-storey building crumpled suddenly, trapping residents under tons of debris. Emergency services, including civil protection units, firefighters and medical teams, rushed to the scene and worked for hours to pull survivors and bodies from the rubble. Authorities said the death toll remains provisional as search and rescue operations continue and the full number of occupants at the time of the collapse is still unknown.
Initial reports from the state-run news agency indicated four fatalities and six injured, but the toll rose as rescuers dug deeper into the wreckage. Local health officials said the injured were transported to nearby hospitals, where some remain in serious condition. Witnesses described scenes of panic as neighbors and passersby joined professional crews, forming human chains to clear debris while listening for signs of life beneath the ruins.
A court in Fes announced that an investigation has been opened to determine the causes of the collapse and to establish whether there were lapses in construction standards, maintenance, or oversight. Technical experts are expected to examine the remains of the structure, review building permits and inspect neighboring properties for potential risks.
The tragedy adds to a troubling pattern of deadly building failures in Fes. Last December, two other buildings collapsed in the city, killing a total of 22 people and prompting calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations. In a separate incident the previous May, nine people died when another residential building fell, underscoring longstanding concerns about aging structures, informal modifications and uneven urban planning.
Urban planners and engineers in Morocco have repeatedly warned that rapid urban growth, combined with inadequate inspection regimes, leaves many residents vulnerable. In older districts of Fes, where traditional and modern constructions stand side by side, the pressure on housing has led to vertical extensions and alterations that are not always properly supervised.
Authorities have pledged to review safety protocols, carry out fresh inspections of at-risk buildings and provide support to families affected by the latest collapse. For many residents, however, the recurring disasters have deepened anxiety about the stability of the homes that shelter them.
