Six Dead in Building Collapse in the Hassan Neighborhood of Fez
The death toll from the collapse of a residential building in Fez has risen to at least six, in a tragedy that shook the Hassan neighborhood in the Merinien district early Friday morning, reigniting discussions about safety conditions in residential buildings, particularly older ones.
Residents of the Hassan neighborhood awoke in the early hours to the sound of a thunderous collapse of a four-story residential building, which housed several families unexpectedly caught in the incident while sleeping. Within moments, the structure was reduced to a pile of rubble, amid harrowing scenes that left nearby residents in a state of panic.
The incident initially resulted in the deaths of four people, but the toll has since increased to six. Additionally, seven others were injured, some critically, and were quickly transported to the regional hospital in Fez. A medical source confirmed that rescue operations are still ongoing, and the number of casualties may rise as more injured individuals and bodies are brought to the emergency department.
At the site of the disaster, civil protection teams and local residents raced against time to try to rescue survivors or recover bodies trapped under the rubble, facing difficult conditions and a meticulous search effort.
In response to the collapse, several residents of adjacent buildings evacuated their homes out of fear of similar collapses affecting their residences. The area was filled with sorrow and screams, turning the neighborhood into an open mourning site overwhelmed by scenes of pain and loss.
This tragedy has brought back to the forefront growing concerns regarding urban safety and the technical oversight of buildings, especially those constructed decades ago without proper rehabilitation or regular maintenance. These structures house hundreds of families in overcrowded neighborhoods with inadequate infrastructure, making every quiet night a potential tragedy threatening innocent lives.
