Collapse of Fes buildings kills 22

THE collapse of two buildings killed 22 people in the northern Moroccan city of Fes, authorities said on Wednesday, in the deadliest accident of its kind in the kingdom in recent years.

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The Fes prosecutor's office said the collapse occurred after 11pm (10pm GMT), with women and children among the dead and 16 people injured.

Locals said the buildings did not meet standards as authorities only allowed two-storey buildings in that area, but the two buildings had four floors each.

"I heard a loud noise around midnight, then screams," Bilal El Bachir, 17, said. "It was shocking. Everyone went outside and I saw what looked like a cloud of dust, and that's when I realised both buildings had collapsed."

"I don't know why it happened ... but I'm sure the upper floors were illegal. And these aren't the only buildings here with illegal floors."