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Rabat – Preliminary data of an ongoing investigation into the tragic collapse of two buildings in Fez shows that the two residential structures were built in 2006.
Local authorities said the buildings were built under what they described as “self-construction” initiatives for the residents of the “Ain Smen” douar under the “Fes, City Without Slums” program.
The program was launched in 2003 to ensure a slum-free city. The Fez Wilaya and the Regional Housing Directorate launched the program, with reports saying such an initiative requires an investment of MAD 90.50 million.
One of the reports published in 2004 suggests that Douar Ain Smen was one of the neighborhoods that contained the largest portion of the slum population, with 2,000 households.
A technical assessment has been entrusted to a specialized consulting firm to collect all data related to the incident. The assessment seeks to identify technical causes behind the collapse of the two buildings and determine failures and responsibilities.
The measures also seek to identify procedural failures that affected legal operations and regulatory standards, according to local authorities in the region.
The deadly collapse of the two buildings on Tuesday occurred in the Al Moustakbal neighborhood in the Al Massira sector at around 11:20 p.m.
Search and clearance operations identified 22 deaths. Sixteen other victims were injured to varying degrees of severity.
A statement from the public prosecutor of Fez’s first instance court said one of the buildings was unoccupied. The other building, however, included people from different families.
One of the buildings was also hosting an “aaqiqah” celebration, a traditional ceremony to mark the birth of a child.
