At least nine people have been killed and several others injured after a residential building collapsed in the Moroccan city of Fes on Thursday, according to local authorities.
An initial report from state-run news agency MAP had put the death toll at four, with six injured, but officials later confirmed that the figures had risen as rescue operations continued. The final toll remains preliminary as emergency responders continue searching through the rubble.
Authorities said it was not immediately clear how many people were inside the five-storey building when it suddenly crumbled.
A Fes court confirmed the updated casualty figures and announced that an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse.
Emergency services, including civil protection teams and medical personnel, were deployed to the scene to rescue survivors and recover bodies. Survivors have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, while families continue to search for missing relatives.
The incident has raised renewed concerns over building safety in the historic city, where similar tragedies have occurred in recent years. In December last year, two building collapses in Fes killed 22 people, while another collapse in May resulted in nine deaths.
Authorities say investigations will focus on whether structural failure, poor maintenance, or regulatory violations contributed to the latest disaster.
