At least 37 people were killed after sudden flash floods swept through Morocco Atlantic coastal province of Safi following intense rainfall, local authorities said on Monday. The flooding struck with little warning on Sunday, inundating large parts of the historic port city and surrounding areas.
Officials said the downpour lasted about an hour but caused widespread destruction. Fourteen people were taken to hospital, including two who remain in intensive care, according to information carried by state broadcaster SNRT News.
Videos shared on social media showed muddy water surging through streets in Safi, dragging cars, debris, and rubbish bins into fast moving currents. Authorities said at least 70 homes and businesses in the city old quarter were flooded as drainage systems were overwhelmed.
Safi lies about 300 kilometers south of the capital Rabat and is home to a dense population near low lying coastal areas. The governorate said search and rescue teams were still combing affected neighborhoods while steps were taken to secure damaged zones and assist displaced residents.
Marouane Tamer, a local resident quoted by AFP, questioned the pace of the emergency response, asking why government trucks had not been deployed sooner to pump water from flooded streets.
Floodwaters damaged roads and cut traffic on several key routes linking Safi to nearby towns. Casablanca based daily Le Matin reported that provincial road 2300, which connects Safi to Hrara, was among the worst hit.
Education authorities suspended classes across Safi province on Monday as crews assessed damage to school buildings and surrounding infrastructure. By Sunday evening, water levels had receded, leaving residents to sift through thick mud in an effort to recover belongings.
As rescue teams continued searching for possible additional victims, Morocco national weather service warned of further heavy rain across parts of the country on Tuesday. The floods come amid unusual weather patterns that have brought both heavy rainfall and snowfall to the Atlas Mountains.
According to the General Directorate of Meteorology, 2024 was the hottest year on record in Morocco, following seven consecutive years of drought that drained major reservoirs. Scientists and officials have warned that extreme weather swings are increasing the risk of sudden floods.
Read Also: Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai Faces National Security Law Conviction
Morocco has faced deadly flooding before. In 2021, 24 people were killed when an illegal underground textile workshop flooded in Tangier, according to state media. Torrential rains also caused widespread damage in 2014 and 2015.
The Safi floods occurred just days after another tragedy, when two buildings collapsed in the historic city of Fes, killing 19 people and injuring 16 others. Authorities said investigations into both incidents are ongoing as the country grapples with a series of natural and structural disasters.