An old house collapsed Thursday in the historic Mellah district of Tetouan, raising renewed concerns about the safety of deteriorating buildings in the city’s old medina.
Local Hespress AR sources said the structure, previously classified as at risk of collapse, had long shown visible cracks and partial structural damage, posing a danger to nearby residents and passersby. No injuries were reported, despite the area’s typically heavy foot traffic, particularly in the morning.
Authorities had reportedly received prior warnings about the building’s condition, but no preventive measures, such as evacuating residents or securing the site, were taken, according to the same sources.
The incident sparked panic among residents, who expressed fears of similar collapses, citing the large number of aging and fragile buildings scattered throughout the narrow streets of the medina.
Civil society groups called for urgent technical inspections of at-risk structures and the implementation of concrete programs to either rehabilitate or demolish unsafe buildings in line with safety standards.
The collapse has reignited debate over the condition of historic buildings in Tetouan, where preservation of architectural heritage must be balanced with ensuring public safety.
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