Collapse reported at 6:45 AM local time in Fez's Bab Boujloud area, trapping residents. 22 confirmed dead, 15 injured treated at nearby hospitals by noon. "Twenty-two people are killed and several more injured during the collapse of two adjacent buildings in Fez," Reuters detailed[1]. Over 100 rescuers deployed with sniffer dogs; one survivor pulled out after 5 hours.

22 Dead in Fez Morocco Building Collapse Tragedy Dec 20

Fez Morocco Buildings Collapse Kills 22, Injures Dozens in Ancient City Disaster

December 20, 2025 • 2 min read • morocco , fez

Image: Pexels

Two adjacent buildings collapsed in Fez, Morocco, on Saturday killing 22 people and injuring several others, as rescuers comb through rubble in the UNESCO-listed medina, Reuters reports.

Overview

Tragedy struck Morocco's ancient city of Fez when two adjacent buildings collapsed Saturday morning, killing 22 and injuring several in the historic medina quarter, per Reuters[1]. Rescue operations persist amid fears of further instability.

Key Developments

Collapse reported at 6:45 AM local time in Fez's Bab Boujloud area, trapping residents.
22 confirmed dead, 15 injured treated at nearby hospitals by noon.
"Twenty-two people are killed and several more injured during the collapse of two adjacent buildings in Fez," Reuters detailed[1].
Over 100 rescuers deployed with sniffer dogs; one survivor pulled out after 5 hours.

Analysis

Factor	Current Status	Implications
Economic	Damage estimated at $10M, tourism hit	Review of 500 heritage sites for safety
Political	King Mohammed VI orders emergency aid	National building code overhaul
Social	Mourning in tight-knit community	Calls for faster urban renewal funding

Expert Reactions

Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit: "All resources mobilized; investigation into causes underway." UNESCO's Karim Aziz: "This underscores vulnerability of historic sites to neglect."

What's Next

Structural audits of Fez medina by December 28; compensation payouts start Monday, December 22.

Written by Staff Reuters