Factory blaze leaves 56 dead in Casablanca

27/04/2008

Experts blamed non-compliance with safety regulations for a tragic fire Saturday in a mattress factory. Fifty-six people, unable to escape the building, perished in the blaze.

Sarah Touahri and Mawassi Lahcen in Casablanca contributed to this report – 27/04/08

[Getty Images] Firemen work to control the blaze at a mattress factory on Saturday in Casablanca. Incidents of this kind raise the issue of safety standards in industrial buildings in Morocco.

Casablanca is in shock after a tragic fire broke out Saturday (April 26th) at the Rosamor Ameublements mattress factory in the Lyssassfa industrial zone, killing 56 and injuring 12 more. Nearly 100 workers were on site at the time of the blaze.

Eyewitnesses place the time of the tragedy at around 10am, saying the fire spread quickly to all four floors of the factory. Fire fighters took until 6pm to bring the situation under control.

Mustapha Touil, Civil Defence Commander for the Wilaya of Greater Casablanca said the fire was difficult to control due to the quantity of flammable materials and chemicals stored in the factory. In a further challenge to rescue workers, he added, the metal gates to the building were sealed tightly and the windows barred.

People living nearby did their best to save the workers while help was on its way. Using wooden beams, they tried to gain access to the building despite the rising flames and managed to save a few of the trapped employees.

One female survivor said she was working in the sewing workshop on the third floor when workers came from downstairs in a panic, explaining the situation. "We decided to go up to the roof," she said. "There, we found a ladder left behind by construction workers and some ropes... we used them to land on the roof of the adjacent building."

"We were working when the fire caught us by surprise," one young worker who escaped the blaze said through tears. "We tried to put it out with water but we weren’t able to. I broke a window on the second floor and jumped out."

There were conflicting reports early on about the correct number of workers inside the factory. Estimates ranged from 100 to 300, but one worker said: "The factory employs more than 200 workers, but they weren't all present because it was Saturday, and we only work for a half day."

Interior Minister Chakib Benmoussa travelled immediately to the scene of the disaster, announcing that the Prosecutor-General’s office has begun an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the fire. "It is of the utmost importance that we launch an inquiry," he said. "We are going to question the owners of the factory to find out about the working conditions, the safety measures which were in place and the cause of the fire."

He also said that by order of the King, efforts will be made to provide support to the victims of the blaze and to console and assist the families of the victims, given the tragic circumstances. A team of counsellors has been formed to support those victims who were rescued.

Incidents of this kind raise the issue of safety standards in industrial buildings in Morocco. Mustapha Taouil, who led the rescue effort, blamed non-compliance with safety regulations: "We were surprised to find that the factory contained numerous chemical products. The premises had no basic emergency equipment, as is required by law. The staff worked behind closed doors, by order of the owner. This was what led to the high death toll."

Workers reported that the owner had expanded illegally to the fourth and fifth floors, undertaking the construction at night, and had even discussed converting the fifth floor into a restaurant.

Quality control engineer Hassan El Ouazzani told Magharebia that safety and quality standards had not been observed in the factory. "It makes no sense for a four-storey block to be converted into a mattress factory. For this type of manufacturing you need a safety plan approved by the local authorities and emergency services," he explained.