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

The Fes prosecutor's office said in a statement the collapse occurred after 11:00 pm (2200 GMT), with women and children among the dead and sixteen people injured.

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

"I heard a loud noise around midnight, then screams," 17-year-old Bilal El Bachir 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........

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