• 19 dead and 16 injured from the collapse of two buildings in Fes, Morocco.
• Deaths include four children, raising concerns over building safety.
• Rescue operations ongoing as authorities respond quickly to the disaster.

At least 19 individuals have lost their lives and 16 others have been injured following the collapse of two residential buildings in the Al-Mustaqbal neighborhood of Fes, Morocco, according to local reports. The tragedy struck overnight, trapping residents inside the structures, which were occupied by eight families. Emergency services quickly mobilized for search and rescue operations at the scene, with many of the injured receiving treatment at the university hospital in Fes, reported the state news agency and Al Jazeera.

The buildings, each four stories tall, collapsed around 10 PM Tuesday, with early investigations suggesting they may have been structurally unsound. This incident has sparked outrage and concern, especially as it follows a pattern of building collapses in Moroccan cities, including recent incidents in Casablanca and Fes, which have raised alarms about the safety of thousands of structures identified as vulnerable. Reports show that over 12,000 such buildings were noted last year, many having deteriorated after severe earthquakes impacted the region, as highlighted by Reuters and India Times.

Videos circulating on social media depicted desperate efforts by rescue teams, which included police and civil protection units, as they worked through the night to clear debris and search for survivors. Authorities have acknowledged the public's shock and anger at the ongoing threat posed by unsafe buildings, a sentiment echoed across Morocco in light of tragic events like this, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.