Devastating flash floods caused by torrential rains claimed the lives of at least 14 people in Morocco’s Atlantic coastal province of Safi on Sunday, according to local authorities. Located approximately 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of Rabat, the Safi region experienced catastrophic flooding that also left 32 individuals injured. Most of the injured have since been discharged from the hospital, officials confirmed in a statement.
An intense period of rainfall, lasting just one hour, wreaked havoc across the old town of Safi. The deluge flooded homes and shops, swept away cars, and disrupted major roads in the town and surrounding areas. Rescue efforts are ongoing as authorities work to mitigate the impact of the disaster.
Morocco has been grappling with extreme weather patterns. Heavy rainfall and snowfall in the Atlas Mountains follow seven years of drought that severely depleted some of the country’s main reservoirs.
"One hour of heavy rain was enough to flood homes and shops in the old town of Safi, sweep away cars and cut many roads in Safi and its surroundings, as rescue efforts continue", authorities stated.
The disaster has underscored the challenges posed by unpredictable weather and the urgent need for effective disaster response systems in vulnerable regions. As rescue and recovery operations continue, the people of Safi face the daunting task of rebuilding their lives in the aftermath of the floods.