AP :
Nineteen people were killed and 16 others injured after two four-story residential buildings collapsed overnight in Morocco’s third-largest city, Fez, authorities said Wednesday.
The buildings, home to eight families, fell in one of the city’s older neighborhoods.
Rescue teams continue searching for potential survivors, while the surrounding area has been evacuated as a precaution.
Officials have not yet determined the cause of the collapse or how many residents remain unaccounted for.
Fez, a host city for this month’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2030 FIFA World Cup, is famous for its historic walled medina, bustling souks, and traditional tanneries.
However, much of the city faces deteriorating infrastructure, and building collapses have become a recurring concern.
Earlier this year, a similar incident in May killed 10 people in a building that had already been scheduled for evacuation.
Experts say enforcement of building codes is often lax, particularly in older, densely populated neighborhoods.
Moroccan citizens have previously protested gaps in basic services, criticizing government spending on stadiums while infrastructure, health care, and education remain underfunded.
The Fez collapse marks the second deadly building accident in the city this year, highlighting ongoing concerns about urban safety in Morocco.
