English
A residential building collapse in the Moroccan city of Fez has killed at least nine people and injured six others, marking the latest in a series of deadly structural failures that have exposed deep flaws in the country's building safety regulations. The four-storey apartment block in the Ain Naqbi district collapsed around 3 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2026, trapping residents as they slept.
What Happened in the Fez Building Collapse?
The building, constructed in the 1980s, suddenly gave way in the early hours, sending tons of concrete and debris onto the occupants below. Civil Protection teams rushed to the scene, working through the rubble to rescue survivors. By midday, six people had been pulled alive from the wreckage, according to authorities. Three of the injured remain in intensive care at Hassan II University Hospital.
Residents of neighboring buildings were evacuated as a precaution, as fears of secondary collapses spread through the densely populated neighborhood. The collapse created widespread panic among local residents, many of whom had previously raised concerns about the structural integrity of aging buildings in the area.
Death Toll Rises as Rescue Efforts Continue
The death toll initially stood at four but was later revised upward as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the debris. Housing Secretary of State Adib Benbrahim confirmed the final toll of nine dead and six injured. Among the victims was a child, according to local media reports.
Search operations continued for days, with authorities warning that more victims could still be trapped. The building contained ten apartments and a rooftop dwelling, indicating a high occupancy rate at the time of the collapse.
Unlicensed Construction Blamed for the Tragedy
Housing Secretary of State Adib Benbrahim stated that the five-story building was constructed without the required authorization, directly linking the tragedy to a broader pattern of unsafe and informal housing in Moroccan cities. "This building was built illegally, without proper permits or oversight," Benbrahim told reporters at the scene. "We must enforce the law more strictly to prevent such disasters."
The collapse echoes a similar disaster in December 2025, when two buildings collapsed in Fez, killing 22 people and injuring 16. In that incident, investigations revealed that owners had illegally added extra floors without permits and used non-compliant, second-hand building materials. The public prosecutor's office subsequently launched a judicial investigation into 21 suspects, including charges of involuntary manslaughter, bribery, and corruption.
The building safety crisis in Morocco has become a recurring issue, particularly in historic cities like Fez, where aging infrastructure and lax enforcement combine to create deadly risks.
Morocco's Struggle with 38,800 Unsafe Buildings
According to Benbrahim, approximately 38,800 buildings across Morocco were previously classified as at risk of collapse. However, many vulnerable structures remain outside official census operations, despite programs launched as early as 2010 to identify unsafe buildings.
Morocco's Law 94.12 on dangerous buildings assigns local committees the responsibility of identifying at-risk structures and proposing solutions, ranging from reinforcement to demolition. Yet implementation has been slow and uneven. Recent government meetings in Fez, Tangier, Casablanca, and Marrakesh have focused on accelerating inventories of informal housing areas, but progress remains insufficient.
The enforcement of building codes in Morocco has been criticized as weak, with corruption and administrative irregularities often enabling illegal construction to proceed unchecked.
Investigation Launched into the Fez Collapse
The Public Prosecutor's office at the Fez Appeals Court has launched a comprehensive investigation to determine the exact cause of the collapse and assign responsibility. Prosecutors are examining potential negligence by parties involved in the building's construction and maintenance, including property owners, contractors, and local officials who may have approved or ignored violations.
The court has vowed strict enforcement of the law and promised legal action against those found responsible. "We will not tolerate negligence that costs human lives," a prosecutor's office statement read. "Those responsible will face the full weight of the law."
This latest tragedy has reignited calls for urgent reform of Morocco's housing and construction oversight systems. Activists and urban planners argue that without meaningful enforcement of existing laws and a systematic approach to upgrading unsafe housing stock, more lives will be lost.
The urban housing crisis in North Africa shares common threads across the region, where rapid urbanization has often outpaced regulatory capacity.
FAQ: Fez Building Collapse 2026
How many people died in the Fez building collapse?
At least nine people were killed, including a child, and six others were injured. The death toll was revised upward from initial reports of four fatalities as rescue teams recovered more bodies from the rubble.
What caused the building to collapse in Fez?
Authorities have stated the building was constructed without proper authorization. Investigations are examining illegal construction, use of substandard materials, and potential negligence by owners and officials. The exact cause will be determined by the ongoing judicial inquiry.
How many buildings in Morocco are at risk of collapse?
Approximately 38,800 buildings across Morocco were previously classified as at risk of collapse, according to Housing Secretary of State Adib Benbrahim. Many more may be uncatalogued due to gaps in official surveys.
What is Morocco doing to prevent building collapses?
Morocco has Law 94.12 on dangerous buildings, which establishes procedures for identifying and addressing at-risk structures. Local committees are tasked with inspections and recommending remediation or demolition. However, enforcement has been inconsistent, and recent collapses have prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight.
Was the Fez building collapse related to the December 2025 disaster?
Both incidents occurred in Fez and share similar root causes: illegal construction, lack of permits, and inadequate enforcement of building codes. The December 2025 collapse killed 22 people and led to charges against 21 suspects. The May 2026 collapse underscores that systemic problems remain unresolved.
Sources
- Hespress: Seven Killed in Fez Collapse Tied to Unlicensed Building
- Hespress: Death Toll in Fez Building Collapse Rises to Nine
- U.S. News: Four People Killed in Building Collapse in Morocco's Fez
- Express TV: Prosecutor's Office Launches Investigation Following Fes Building Collapse
- Morocco World News: Fez Building Collapse Investigation into 21 Suspects
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