Factory blaze leaves 56 dead in Casablanca
2008-04-27
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.
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acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2008-04-27
Our condolences go out to the families of the victims. I hope that the government will do everything it can to come to their aid. His Majesty, Mohamed VI gave his high instructions to the government in order to support them and to do everything it can for them. A serious investigation has been opened to determine who is responsible. The families can trust in this because there will be zero-tolerance for those who caused this accident.
عبد الحميد Posted 2008-04-27
A family living in Hay Annassim adjacent to the factory lost three girls in that blaze, there were also children among victims. The investigation should be with the minister of the interior because his services authorize such catastrophes. Greed, bribery and administrative corruption are all responsible for the deaths of these victims.
champion Posted 2008-04-27
The owner and his factory’s unsafe conditions were known to the authorities. But, the authorities did nothing; they waited for people to die before they stopped him. There are hundred of factories like this in Casablanca. Why is there such silence and hypocrisy?
rachid Posted 2008-04-28
Every time a disaster strikes the Moroccans, we hear the same phrases and the same declarations without anything ever being done to avoid having this sort of thing repeated once again.
وداد Posted 2008-04-28
Peace and mercy of God upon you. What happened in Casablanca is a calamity to all Moroccans, not just the victims. So we comfort them and soothe them. God is the assistant. I personally was affected by the big number of victims, the number of families left by victims, and also two respectable channels 2M and the first comforted the victims with the evening soirée. By God this is shameful. We should have shared the suffering of the families of victims.
Saidani Miloudi Posted 2008-04-28
What a shame! The fire incident has occured in juxtaposition with the upcoming commemoration of the Labour Day and May 16th.The Interior and Iskan Ministries should find those who have to pay for the big damages and the high number of casualties.
housam Posted 2008-04-28
Hello, My name is Houssam. I am from Algeria. I found out about this tragedy. This is so shocking. Is it true that this happened in Morocco yesterday? From God we are, and to God we shall return.
rabiaa Posted 2008-04-28
From God we are, and to God we shall return.
خليل وصفي الحاج درويش الاردن Posted 2008-04-28
Peace, mercy and blessings of God upon you. When I visit many Arabic newspapers on the net, I discover that in many factories in our Arab world, the conditions of windows, iron bars and tightly closed doors could be the major feature in most of these factories. May be it is the fear to be robbed, only God knows. I suggest that windows and doors have a closing characteristic so that they are easily opened in the case of blaze. The lives of men and women of workers in the factory is more important than the millions of dollars of damages as a result of the fire. Stopping robberies can be achieved via simple and practical electronic alarm systems with competent security guards who are trained and chosen according to accurate and studied measures. Our sincere condolences to the victims of the blaze in Casablanca. I seek refuge in God from Satan, in the name of God most gracious most merciful. “Give good news to the patient, who, when a misfortune befalls them, say: Surely we are Allah's and to Him we shall surely return”. God says the truth.
mourad Posted 2008-04-28
We don't like those who aren't concerned about their country Morocco, we want to live in dignity.
souad Posted 2008-04-28
i am really sorry for what happened to our Moroccan brothers. May God rest the souls of those who died, and grant patience to those who survived. A news like this really hurts, we hope that God be by your side with the will of God.
slim16 Posted 2008-04-28
My condolences go out to all the families of the victims of this disaster. I cannot help but say that if the industrial factories all resemble the one where the tragedy took place, then it is economic anarchy over here. What is there to boast about in liberalism? It is as savage as it is dangerous. (All the more so with the hundreds like this in Casablanca.) None of this is very encouraging. Rather, it is ugly.
منية عبدالجليلبو قشبين Posted 2008-04-29
Unfortunately, I was very affected by this incident. I present my warmest condolences to the families of victims I charge responsibility to the minister of the interior because such accidents are the result of the shortcomings and negligence of officials. I ask for indemnities to be paid to the victims and wounded, and also that the owner of the factory be punished as he doesn’t provide emergency equipment because such a factory should have necessary precautions. I hope that my letter will be considered.
chafik momo Posted 2008-04-29
First of all, my condolences go out to the families of the victims and all the Moroccan people for this disaster. This is not a first in the history of the commercial nerve centre that is Casablanca. In my opinion, before stopping the so-called employer and his son, they need first of all to stop all the men who are complicit in this Moroccan-style holocaust. This is to say that the people who regulate job safety in this type of factory, which exploit people as if they were less than nothing, knowing that renowned companies having Moroccan franchises and who sell their products at exorbitant prices, while the people work in gulags at wages between 200.00 and 600.00 dirhams a week.
sousou Posted 2008-04-29
All of our condolences go out to the Moroccan people for this tragedy. What has happened here has saddened us as well. May God be with the families of the victims and, God willing, lord have mercy on their souls.
MAGHRIBI Posted 2008-04-29
So long as a country is rife with corruption, it will never know prosperity. And, the poor are the ones who face this.
bochra Posted 2008-04-29
I really appreciate your articles. Keep up the good work!
عبد المجيد Posted 2008-04-29
Unfortunately, more victims could have been rescued from the Rosamor factory but officials downplayed the danger of the blaze. I live in Hay Ennassim which is near the accident site. All my neighbours are in deep sorrow. The number of victims is much higher than this figure. Today, Saturday, is the day on which workers get their wages. Unfortunately, people here are angry with the state because while their sons were burning, the royal gendarmerie's helicopters were flying over the accident site and filming the blaze instead of interfering to save people's lives. There is great, great anger because the state let the factory burn with people in it, and this the most atrocious crime.
jouhara Posted 2008-04-29
Slim-16; Keep your condolences for yourself, you slime. You cannot help your maliciousness, even in this setting. Take a look a bit closer to home, where everything is falling apart. And, don’t just look where everything is in full bloom, but at the rough edges where things are worse off.
gol Posted 2008-04-30
It was irresponsible of the mattress factory owner to think himself clever for blocking all the emergency exits to prevent theft. In the end, he burnt down his factory and caused 56 deaths.
saida Posted 2008-04-30
Hi, I am really sad about what happened. I am an Algerian.
BYWARD Posted 2008-04-30
I am sorry to hear of the loss of these worker’s lives in this building that was not a factory at all! The police covered this disaster up in order to mask the real cause. Where was the Civilian Protection before the disaster? Why didn’t it ever make a legal inspection tour of the premises? Why did they give it the permits and authorisation to operate? Why was it in an urban community? Why were the windows barred shut with iron bars and the doors barricaded? Why was there no emergency exit? Why did this company seem to fear the theft of chemical products? Who would steal chemical products?... the employees? In any case, everything leads us to believe that the employees had hijacked this business. The factory looked like a prison no less! Theft was the principle cause of this disaster!? This sort of thing is common—very common—in Morocco’s businesses. The Moroccan authorities should further investigate the theft of the chemical products and what was done with them. That is where the security of the citizens and country is going to be. As for the factory owner, he lost his money in a country where state power is absent and the representatives are for the most part incompetent, lazy and corrupt.
slim16 Posted 2008-05-01
I am shocked: less than 36 hours after the 56 people in Casa were made victims, there was another fire in the same conditions that burnt three more to death... Once again, my condolences go out to all the families of these victims. May God give them the courage to overcome these ordeals… which are always in Casablanca!!! I think that we need to crack down on our leaders for such unjustifiable conditions. And, there has to be a lot more like them. It is always the little people who pay for the cheating of those who stuff their pockets!!! Why were the workers locked in these alleged factories and shops? What a funny way to manage a business!? There are a lot of things to be looked into and savage liberalism leaves a lot to be desired. If we are to talk about economy, there are a lot more human losses than benefits.
slim16 Posted 2008-05-02
To Jouhara: You will not be the one to prevent me from sending my condolences to the families of these victims of human stupidity. I notice that you did not even do this. This is because you can’t shut your mouth long enough to trip yourself up. Personally, I prefer to offer constructive criticism. Who knows!? You address yourself only to me, even though there are other participants that have the same point of view as me. You need to blame those who are responsible for such catastrophes. Here in Algeria we denounce them and we are beginning to make some gains for our cause. We do not cover our mouths, you know??? And, you are the one putting out slime. You do not know how to be respectful!!!
20jeunes algeriens Posted 2008-05-04
May Allah reward you with the best of rewards and may He make us. Our condolences go out to the families of the victims. Terror once again strikes the poor people. Be strong. Once again, the poor people lost their lives. May Allah rest their souls in peace. May we continue to live as Allah’s subject. No one knows when and how they will die. The circumstance and the severity of the agony does not explain anything about Allah.
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