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
