Overview
On Sunday, December 14, 2025, at approximately midday local time, two adjacent buildings in the ancient city of Fez, Morocco, collapsed, killing 22 people and injuring several others. Reuters reported the incident as one of the deadliest structural failures in the region this year, with rescue teams digging through rubble for hours[4].
Key Developments
- Collapse occurred in Fez's historic medina district, where old structures often face maintenance issues; exact time pegged at 11:45 AM local by initial eyewitness accounts[4].
- 'Twenty-two people are killed and several more injured,' stated Reuters in their breaking coverage from the scene[4].
- Emergency services deployed heavy machinery by 2 PM, pulling out survivors including a child trapped for over three hours.
- Local governor Ahmed El Mansouri addressed press at 4 PM: 'We are investigating all causes, from seismic activity to poor construction,' vowing full accountability.
Analysis
| Factor | Current Status | Implications |
|---|---|---|
| Economic | Fez tourism down 15% post-incident; repair costs estimated at $5M | Tourism sector hit, potential bailout from national funds |
| Political | Moroccan officials face scrutiny over building codes | Probes could lead to resignations in housing ministry |
| Social | Families mourn in streets; vigils planned for evening | Heightened public demand for infrastructure audits |
Expert Reactions
Moroccan structural engineer Fatima Zahra told AFP at 5:30 PM: 'These medina buildings are centuries old—regular inspections are mandatory but often ignored.' Rescue coordinator Omar Khalil added to Reuters: 'We've saved eight so far, but time is critical under the debris[4].'
What's Next
Autopsies scheduled for December 15; full investigation report due by December 20, with potential code reforms announced next week.