At least 19 people were killed and 16 injured early on Wednesday after two buildings collapsed in Fez, one of Morocco’s oldest cities, the state news media reported, saying the blocks had shown signs of neglect for some time.
Local authorities in the Fez prefecture reported that two adjacent four-storey buildings had collapsed overnight, the state news agency said.
The buildings were inhabited by eight families and were in the Al-Mustaqbal neighbourhood, it reported.
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As soon as they were informed of the incident, local authorities, security services, and civil protection units moved to the scene and immediately began search and rescue operations, it said.
Fez, a former capital dating back to the eighth century and the country’s third-most populous city, was caught up in a wave of protests two months ago against the government over deteriorating living conditions and poor public services.
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