The recent collapse of a six-story residential building in the Ain Naqbi neighborhood of the Jnan El Ward district in Fez has resulted in a devastating toll, with the death count rising to 14. In addition to the fatalities, five individuals have sustained injuries, including two who are currently in critical condition, as confirmed by reliable sources on-site.
Emergency services, local authorities, and civil protection teams mobilized extensively at the site of the disaster from the early hours of Thursday morning. They deployed significant human and logistical resources to continue the search and rescue operations beneath the rubble, amidst fears of additional victims potentially trapped under the debris.
According to available information, a total of 19 individuals, including women and children, have been rescued from the ruins of the collapsed structure. The injured were promptly transported to Hassan II University Hospital for necessary medical treatment, while the deceased have been taken to the morgue at the regional El Ghassani Hospital.
Rescue and recovery efforts continued for several hours, involving specialized teams trained in search operations amidst debris. Meanwhile, authorities established a security cordon around the collapsed building and evacuated residents from neighboring homes as a precautionary measure to prevent any further collapses that could jeopardize their safety.
Initial reports indicate that the building had been listed among structures at risk of collapse and had previously been subject to evacuation orders. This raises significant questions regarding the circumstances that allowed the continued residential use of the building despite its known dangers.
In conjunction with ongoing efforts at the scene, the relevant authorities have initiated an investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor to ascertain the precise circumstances surrounding this tragedy, uncovering the factors that led to the building's collapse, and determining any potential liabilities associated with the incident.
As reported by assahifa.com.
