AFCON stadium devastated by fire, destroying newly installed seats.

The Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, which is undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), caught fire. 

Hundreds of recently installed new seats were damaged when the fire broke out in the stadium’s upper section. In the fire, about 250 contemporary plastic seats were destroyed. Fortunately, none of the on-site employees suffered any injuries. 

Before they could completely extinguish the fire, firefighters battled it for almost three hours. From more than ten kilometres away, thick black smoke rose high into the sky.

Polypropylene copolymer, the type of plastic used to make the seats, burns easily and accelerated the spread of the fire.

Even though no one was hurt, the fire has made people wonder how safe the renovation site is, particularly when welding, which may have started the fire, is being done close to the stadium’s roof.

According to preliminary reports, there might have been some safety lapses. 

The work’s supervisor is currently assessing the extent of the damage and has stated that it will enforce safety regulations more strictly, particularly in areas that are more dangerous, such as the roof and the last stages of fitting.

Morocco is currently working on more than 120 major infrastructure projects across six host cities: Rabat, Casablanca, Tangier, Fez, Marrakech, and Agadir. The fire has increased pressure on Morocco, which is just a few months away from hosting AFCON 2025. 

AFCON 2025 Infrastructure Irojects Are On Schedule.

 According to an April report, all stadium construction is still proceeding according to plan in spite of this incident. In addition to the stadiums, Morocco is attempting to make it easier for people to move around during the competition by enhancing the roads, lighting, signage, pedestrian walkways, and green areas.

Morocco is concentrating on ensuring that all stadiums and public projects are completed safely and on schedule as the tournament draws near.