Workers locked up to stop theft
2008-04-28 08:14
Casablanca - Moroccan police on Sunday arrested the owner and manager of a mattress factory where at least 55 people perished, locked inside as a fire devoured it, a security official said.
An emergency officer said managers had locked in staff during work hours to stop theft, trapping them in the fire on Saturday.
The blaze quickly turned into an inferno, burning victims alive while others leapt to safety, but many women workers were too scared to jump and were trapped. Thirty-five women died, according to a forensics official.
Speaking on Medil radio, Moustapha Taouil of the Casablanca civil protection service said "the lack of equipment maintenance" - notably involving an electric saw - caused the inferno.
"The plant's owner, Adil Moufarreh, and his son Abdelali Moufarreh, who was the manager, have been taken into custody after having been questioned by police," said a security official.
Funerals of some victims took place Sunday afternoon, attended by a king's chamberlain and four ministers.
Victims either asphyxiated, burnt
Forensic experts found another body on Sunday, bringing the death toll to at least 55, said the official news agency MAP. There were 17 injured.
"The people who died were either asphyxiated or burnt," said a firefighter.
Civil protection officials said it had become clear that safety norms had not been applied in the Rosamor factory in the southwest of Morocco's biggest city.
"It's a building with a ground floor and three upper floors specialising in making furniture, therefore there were highly inflammable products," said Taouil.
"We confirmed during our examination that the owners of the premises failed to respect legal requirements for this kind of industry including staff training," he said.
More seriously, "the owner, in contravention of the law, locked staff inside the plant apparently to prevent theft of raw material. It was this that prevented them getting out".
Taouil said the fire had been started by a short circuit on the ground floor where power saws were located. "The fire was caused by lack of proper maintenance of certain machines and electrical installations," he charged.
"All the doors were blocked and nobody was able to escape through the exits," said Smail Benhamed, 19, who jumped from the second floor.
Former employee Fadila Khadija, 28, alleged: "There was no emergency exit, the extinguishers were empty and the working conditions were difficult."
'I'll never forget those who died'
One security source said windows had been fitted with iron bars, making escape difficult.
King Mohammed VI ordered authorities "to take all necessary measures to help the victims," including the mobilisation of burns units at hospitals all over Morocco.
Survivor Omar Elaaz, 20, said: "I was working on the first floor as an upholsterer. The smoke came up from the ground floor where the foam rubber, wood and glue are stored."
"I used a gas bottle to break the wire mesh that protects every window."
"I jumped from the third floor with four other colleagues while the women, who didn't dare to follow us, perished in the inferno," said 31-year-old upholsterer Hakim Hakki from a hospital bed.
"God saved me but I'll never forget those who died."
The father of Abdelazziz Darif, 19, who died in the blaze, said his son was paid only $31 a week and had no social insurance.