Architect’s Treasure Hunt Leads to Deadly Building Collapse in Marrakech

The collapse occurred on Tuesday when "the elements of the architect’s team, including civil engineering specialists, dug a tunnel from the basement of the adjacent Riad, which belonged to the architect, to access the gold coins that would be buried under the cellar of the neighboring Riad," according to sources from the daily Assabah.

The collapse caused "a loud explosion noise", arousing the curiosity of neighbors and passers-by. "Four people were pulled from the rubble, including a worker in critical condition," the same sources said. Alerted, the local authorities, the police services and the civil protection elements rushed to the scene.

The security services arrested four other people who were placed in custody, as well as "the seizure of a metal detector and equipment used for digging and clearing the ground." The architect who ordered this treasure hunt has fled. The competent authorities are actively searching for him nationwide.