CASABLANCA, Morocco (AFP) — Casablanca's chief prosecutor said Tuesday that the weekend fire at a mattress factory which killed at least 55 people was started by a discarded cigarette butt, state media said.
"It was a case of human error after a cigarette end fell on inflammable materials," the prosecutor said in a statement.
An individual suspected of throwing the lit cigarette away carelessly is accused of "involuntary" fire-starting, causing damage to buildings, contents and "causing the death of more than one person" while injuring others.
The owner of the Rosamor factory in the southwest of Morocco's biggest city and his son are themselves accused of failing to provide adequate security conditions and equipment.
Adil Moufarreh and his son Abdelali Moufarreh also face charges of involuntary homicide and "non-assistance for people in danger," the prosecutor added.
An inquiry into violations of planning and workplace health and safety laws has also been ordered.
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