Morocco has begun a nationwide emergency relief operation to assist families affected by severe winter weather, after flash floods and freezing conditions killed dozens and damaged homes across the country.
The government said on Tuesday that the aid program will support about 73,000 households in 28 provinces facing heavy rain, snowfall, and plunging temperatures. Food supplies and blankets are being distributed as weather officials warn that dangerous conditions are expected to continue in the days ahead.
The relief effort follows a deadly flash flood in the Atlantic port city of Safi on Sunday that killed 37 people, according to local authorities. The flooding began after an intense downpour overwhelmed parts of the city in less than an hour.
Officials said roughly 70 homes and shops were damaged as muddy water surged through streets, sweeping away vehicles and trapping residents inside buildings. Fourteen people were taken to hospital, with two still in intensive care. Schools in Safi have been closed for at least three days as crews work to clear debris and reopen blocked roads.
The worst damage was reported in the Bab Chabaa district, where floodwaters rose to around four metres in some areas. A 67 year old rights activist told local media that shopkeepers became trapped after locking themselves inside their stores as the water level rose rapidly. A mother of six said her family had “lost everything,” while another resident said she escaped her home with only the clothes she was wearing.
Prosecutors have opened an investigation into whether infrastructure failures contributed to the scale of the disaster. A government meteorologist said rainfall levels were typical for the region, but authorities are examining whether poor drainage systems may have worsened the flooding.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s weather service issued a red alert on Tuesday for snowfall of up to 80 centimetres in the High Atlas mountains. An orange alert remains in effect for heavy rain across central and northern regions.
In mountainous areas southeast of Rabat, snow depths have reached about 50 centimetres, with overnight temperatures dropping below freezing. Officials say some rural communities risk being cut off as roads become impassable.
Read Also: Morocco Flash Floods Kill At Least 37 In Safi Province
According to reporting by Reuters and the BBC, emergency teams have been placed on high alert nationwide, with local authorities coordinating shelter and supply deliveries to isolated villages.
The extreme winter weather follows seven consecutive years of drought that have left many of Morocco’s main reservoirs severely depleted. Last year was the hottest on record in the country, and climate scientists say rising temperatures are increasing the intensity and unpredictability of storms across North Africa.
The Safi floods also came just days after 22 people were killed when two buildings collapsed in the historic city of Fes, raising renewed concerns about building standards and ageing urban infrastructure.
As emergency operations continue, authorities say assessments are underway to determine further needs in affected areas. Weather officials have urged residents to follow safety advisories as Morocco braces for more severe conditions this week.