19 killed after two buildings collapse in Morocco, rescue ops underway
At least 19 people died and 16 were injured when two adjacent four-story residential buildings collapsed overnight in Morocco’s historic city of Fes (also spelled Fez).
The collapse occurred in the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood (also referred to as Al-Moustakbal or Al-Massira area), where the buildings housed eight families, including children among the victims. It began around 11:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, with one structure failing first, followed moments later by the second.
Police, civil protection teams, and rescue workers responded swiftly, securing the area, evacuating nearby buildings, and searching rubble for potential additional survivors. The injured were transported to Fes University Hospital Centre, and officials noted the death toll could rise as operations continue.
This marks the second fatal building collapse in Fes this year, amid ongoing concerns about aging and unsafe structures in Moroccan cities. Similar incidents have occurred in the past, including deadly collapses in Fes in 2016 and earlier in 2024.
