Fez, Morocco : A deadly building collapse in the historic medina of Fez, Morocco, claimed 22 lives and injured 15 others between December 9 and 10, 2025, after two adjoining four-story residential blocks crumbled overnight. The buildings housed eight families and were located in one of North Africa’s oldest and most densely populated UNESCO-listed urban centers.
Rescue teams, assisted by sniffer dogs, worked through the night before officially ending operations on December 10. Authorities say early findings point to structural deterioration, worsened by heavy seasonal rains, poor maintenance, and high vulnerability in the city’s aging housing stock.
This marks the second fatal collapse in Fez this year—a July 2025 incident had already killed 12 residents—raising renewed concerns about the city’s fragile infrastructure. Fez reportedly has more than 1,200 at-risk buildings, many dating back centuries.
Moroccan Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit and local governor Sayed El Alami visited the site, promising accountability and immediate support for affected families. The government has pledged nearly $5 million for emergency stabilization, restoration work, and relocation assistance.
The tragedy has sparked global conversations on urban decay and climate vulnerability, with #FezCollapse trending on X worldwide. Urban planners and rights groups are urging Morocco to accelerate seismic retrofitting, drainage upgrades, and disaster-preparedness efforts across historic cities increasingly threatened by extreme weather.
