HIBAPRESS – Abdellatif Baraka
The ancient city of Essaouira was shaken this Saturday, January 3, 2026, by a tragic incident following the collapse of a residential house in the historic "Mellah" district, which left a state of sadness and shock among the residents.
According to information from the scene, the sudden collapse of the building caused the death of a woman and her infant, who was no more than four months old, in a painful scene that brought back to mind the danger of dilapidated buildings in the ancient city. Another person was also injured with varying degrees of severity, and was quickly transferred to the emergency department of the regional hospital to receive the necessary first aid. Following the incident, local and security authorities rushed to the scene, where the neighborhood was cordoned off and its entrances closed as a precautionary measure, to avoid any potential collapses that could threaten the safety of citizens. Civil protection elements also began search and inspection operations under the rubble, in addition to transferring the bodies of the two victims to the morgue. This painful incident brought back to the forefront the issue of houses at risk of collapse within the ancient city of Essaouira, especially in the historic neighborhoods, which urgently raises the need to accelerate the pace of preventive interventions to protect the lives of residents and preserve the safety of the urban fabric.
