A fire broke out at the Conference Palace in Marrakech on Thursday, February 15, leaving two dead and three injured, local authorities confirmed. The blaze started in an elevator as workers prepared the venue for the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, scheduled to begin on February 18, with international delegates set to attend.
Preliminary investigations point to an electrical fault in the elevator as the likely cause of the fire. The flames trapped the victims, complicating rescue efforts. Firefighters arrived swiftly, evacuated the building, and contained the blaze before it could spread further.
The injured were rushed to the emergency department of Marrakech’s regional hospital for treatment, while the bodies of the deceased were transferred to the hospital’s morgue for further examination. Morocco’s public prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation to determine the exact cause of the fire and assess whether safety regulations were followed. Officials are reviewing the elevator’s maintenance records and the building’s overall safety standards.
The fire has raised concerns over whether the Conference Palace can still host the upcoming global summit. Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage to determine if repairs can be completed in time or if an alternative venue will be required. Engineers and safety experts are conducting structural inspections before a final decision is made.
Emergency teams and security forces responded quickly to the incident, with the regional security chief overseeing operations. Authorities have pledged to provide updates as the investigation progresses and to implement measures to enhance safety protocols.
The incident underscores the critical need for stringent safety checks in public venues, particularly those hosting international events. This is a developing story, and further details will be shared as they emerge.