Drama in the Maghreb.
Five people died in the collapse of a house in the medina (old town) of Fez in Morocco, several local media reported on Sunday.
The three-story building, of old construction, partially collapsed late Saturday after heavy rains, according to these sources, who specified that three men and two women had died in the accident.
Five people lost their lives following the collapse of a building in the old medina of Fez.pic.twitter.com/xE7at6rk8Y
— Le360 (@Le360fr) February 11, 2024
The building, located in the medina classified as a UNESCO world heritage site, was however “not considered to threaten (to fall into) ruin or represent a danger for the inhabitants and the neighborhood”, indicated the information site The360.
A very busy place
“When we arrived, the emergency services were already present on the scene,” said a local resident to the same media.
“Some witnesses told us they heard the sound of hammer blows on a wall, which probably caused the house to collapse.”
Very popular with tourists, the medina of Fez is one of the oldest and largest (280 hectares) in the world, and is considered one of the best preserved in the Arab-Muslim world.
Other dilapidated buildings have collapsed there in the past.