Dozens of people have been killed after torrential rains brought flash flooding to several regions of Morocco, with locals lamenting their losses and highlighting the poor emergency response to the disaster.
At least 37 people have been killed in the worst-hit coastal province of Safi, after intense rainfall pummeled the area in a short space of time on Sunday, flooding homes and shops and even seeing vehicles being washed away by powerful torrents.
Residents in the historic old city of Safi described the terrifying moments as water levels surged dangerously high in just a matter of minutes, leaving little time for them to escape.
"I was at work when the rain began, and the water level rose very quickly. We tried to push the water out, but the force and volume were overwhelming. I lost all my bakery machines, but I survived. The streets were submerged under nearly three meters of muddy water. About 50 of us fled and were rescued by neighbors who helped us reach the rooftops," said Abdelhak Al-Kadmiri, a local resident.
The sudden downpour overwhelmed local drainage systems, leaving local residences and businesses vulnerable to the full force of the flooding, while many roads were completely cut off.
Some locals were critical of the slow response of emergency response teams, and said they felt they were largely left to fend for themselves in the wake of the extreme weather.
"Where were the municipal services? They were supposed to clean the sewers and drainage systems before the floods. No one came to check on us or help clean our homes. We spent the night on the rooftops. The authorities were absent. We lost all our belongings and now fear more heavy rain," said Fatiha Bent Mohamed, another resident.
Despite increased investment in flood prevention, drainage networks, and climate-resilient planning, this latest disastrous and fatal round of flooding has exposed how easily Morocco’s infrastructure can be overwhelmed by such weather events and raised questions about the country’s emergency response capabilities.
"Flash floods have laid bare the vulnerability of infrastructure to climate change, with heavy rainfall in a short timeframe overwhelming drainage networks. Blocked sewage channels caused water levels to rise, resulting in deaths and major disruption to daily life. The situation highlights the pressing need for sustainable environmental measures and robust early-warning systems," said Zakaria Ait Taleb, an environmental expert.
With more rain expected, civil protection teams have now been deployed to Safi to carry out search and rescue operations, evacuate residents from high-risk areas, and assess the scale of damage, with authorities saying emergency crews would stay on alert as conditions evolve.
Dozens killed in Morocco flash floods as locals lament slow emergency response
Dozens killed in Morocco flash floods as locals lament slow emergency response
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
