Two people killed in Jerada following the collapse of an abandoned mine 

Two people, aged 33 and 42, died Saturday, 2nd of June, after the partial collapse of a traditional lead gallery in the commune of Sidi Boubker (Jerada province), said the local authorities.

The bodies of the victims were recovered from inside the gallery by a group of their companions.

According to the same sources, one of the victims, who was still alive, was urgently evacuated to Oujda’s university hospital. The man was placed in the intensive care unit before passing away, surrendering to his serious injuries.

The Moroccan authorities have promised to close all abandoned mines in Jerada after the death of two brothers. The incident led to the eruption of a social unrest in December 2017.  

A series of peaceful demonstrations took place in the former mining city where the population was asking for social justice and economic alternatives.

For the record, Jerada was home to Charbonnage du Maroc, a coal mining firm that was shut in the 90s. After closing its doors, several miners were forced to either leave the city or work in abandoned mines.