Rabat – The public prosecutor at the Court of First Instance announced the launch of an investigation into the deadly collapse of two adjacent buildings in the Al Massira neighborhood in Fez on Tuesday night.
The collapse of the two buildings caused the death of 22 people, while 16 others were injured.
The victims include women and children.
According to the public prosecutor’s statement, the tragedy occurred around 11:20 p.m. One of the buildings hosted an “aaqiqa celebration,” a ritual ceremony held in Morocco to mark the birth of a child. The other building was unoccupied, the prosecutor said.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause and circumstances behind the incident, according to the Fez public prosecutor.
Moroccans nationwide and beyond are mourning the death of the victims. Concerns have mounted regarding the increase in similar incidents across the country.
While some reports suggest the houses were at-risk structures, others emphasize that the buildings were relatively new.
Other reports and rumors alleged that the collapsed buildings may have included two floors that were constructed illegally.
Authorities have not yet confirmed these claims.
Search efforts are ongoing to find potential victims who could still be under the rubble.
Footage shows many residents joining search and rescue efforts. Witnesses said they were able to help some of the victims, including an elderly man and a child.
