The town of Mazouna, in the Sidi Bouzid governorate of Tunisia, is in mourning after the tragic death of three high school students, crushed by the collapse of a dilapidated wall.
The danger had been repeatedly reported before the tragedy.
The incident occurred Monday near the “Ibn Hazm” high school, when a section of the perimeter wall weakened by years and weathering, suddenly collapsed under strong gusts of wind.
Five students, all aged 18 to 19 and studying for their baccalaureate exams, were caught underneath the debris.
Three died instantly, while the other two were rushed to hospital.
Emotions quickly turned to rage. Protests erupted in the region as roads were blocked, tires burned, and an administrative vehicle targeted. Classes were suspended, and several businesses closed their
doors as a sign of mourning and protest.
According to residents and several local media outlets, the state of the wall had long been a cause for concern.
Warnings had been issued, and an official request for renovation had been submitted a few weeks
before the tragedy.
Despite this, no work had been carried out. The wall, built in the 1980s, was showing obvious signs of fragility.
This tragedy has once again reignited the controversy over the degraded state of Tunisia’s school infrastructure. The teachers’ union has denounced the authorities’ inaction in the face of known and
repeated risks in several schools across the country. It is calling for immediate measures to secure public schools and prevent further disasters.
The residents of Mazzouna are demanding an investigation and sanctions against those responsible for what they describe as “criminal negligence.”
The government has yet to officially respond. This latest tragic accident echoes the collapse of a wall in Kairouan in December 2023, which claimed the lives of three workers.
This incident had already sparked a national outcry and led to the dismissal of several officials.
MK/te/fss/as/APA