Prince Albert II has sent a message of condolence to King Mohammed VI of Morocco following the collapse of two residential buildings in Fez that killed at least 22 people and injured a further 16.
The two four-storey buildings in the Al Massira suburb of the city collapsed early on Wednesday morning, with one building hosting a celebration for the birth of a child when the tragedy occurred. Eight families lived in the structures, which Moroccan news outlets report had shown signs of deterioration for several years.
“Profound emotion” at loss of life
In an official dispatch, Prince Albert expressed his reaction to the disaster. “It is with profound emotion that I learned of the tragic collapse of two buildings in Fez, which has cost the lives of numerous people and caused several injuries,” the Prince wrote.
“My Family and the Monegasque population join me in expressing to the Moroccan people our solidarity and compassion in these painful hours,” he stated. “Our thoughts go to the bereaved families, as well as to the injured towards whom we send wishes for swift recovery.”
The Prince also acknowledged the emergency response. “We also salute the remarkable commitment of rescue teams mobilised from the first hours,” he wrote, as search and rescue operations continued to find anyone still trapped under the rubble.
“Unwavering support in moments of great trial”
Concluding his message to King Mohammed VI, Prince Albert wrote: “Be assured, Your Majesty, of our unwavering support in these moments of great trial.”
The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns about building safety in Morocco. The country’s housing minister stated in January that around 13,700 buildings nationwide were under imminent risk of collapse. Fez has experienced multiple building collapses in recent years, with nine people killed when a condemned building fell in a different neighbourhood in May, and five deaths when a house in the old city crumbled in February 2024 following heavy rain and strong winds.
Residents of nearby buildings have been evacuated as a preventative measure whilst the public prosecutor’s office in Fez investigates the cause and circumstances of the collapse. Residents blamed haphazard construction, with one telling local media that one building had fallen onto the other in an incident that occurred in less than two minutes.
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Photo credit: Hamza Demnati, Unsplash