At least 19 people have been killed and 16 others injured after two buildings collapsed in Morocco’s historic city of Fes, a cultural city known for its history. The two four-story buildings collapsed on Wednesday (December 10). Children are also among the dead, local media reported.

The Moroccan state news agency reported that eight families lived in the two buildings in the Al-Mustaqbal area. Police and civil protection workers arrived at the scene immediately after the collapse and began rescue operations. The injured have been admitted to the University Hospital Center in Fes.

Videos circulating on social media show rescue workers working overnight to find those trapped in the rubble.

Fes, Morocco, is one of the oldest cities in the world. The city was founded in the 8th century during the reign of the Idriss dynasty. The Fes Medina is located here. The Fes Medina is the historic center of the Moroccan city of Fes, one of the largest and oldest preserved medieval cities in the world. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also home to the University of Al-Qarawi, one of the oldest universities in the world.

Building collapses in Fes are not new. In February last year, a house collapsed in the old city area, killing five people. Earlier, in 2016, two deadly collapses occurred within a week. At that time, a house collapsed in Marrakech, killing two children, and another four-story building collapsed, killing four people. Many people were injured.

According to official estimates in 2023, the number of vulnerable buildings in Marrakech and the surrounding area exceeded 12,000. Many buildings were weakened by a powerful earthquake that struck the same year.