In such conditions, even a small leakage of current from an appliance can travel rapidly through the body, causing severe injuries or, as in this case, death. Had the woman been wearing shoes with rubber soles, the outcome might have been very different.
A Hidden Household Danger
While electricity powers our modern lives, it also represents an invisible threat when safety measures are neglected. Refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves, and other household appliances can all pose serious risks if not properly maintained, insulated, or grounded.
Often, people underestimate the hazards of “small shocks” they may experience while touching appliances. A minor tingling in the hand might be dismissed as unimportant, but it can be a warning sign of faulty wiring or insulation. In the Bir Jdid case, experts suspect that the refrigerator had developed an electrical fault that went unnoticed until it claimed a life.
Expert Opinions
Electrical safety specialists emphasize the importance of routine checks in households. According to engineer Youssef Rahmani, “Many homes in Morocco, especially in rural or older neighborhoods, still rely on outdated wiring systems that fail to meet modern safety standards. Without proper grounding or circuit breakers, the risk of accidents like this is extremely high.”
Rahmani advises families to install residual-current devices (RCDs), commonly known as circuit breakers. These devices are designed to cut off electricity within milliseconds if they detect leakage, potentially saving lives. “It is a small investment compared to the cost of losing a loved one,” he added.
The Community Reaction
