37 killed as torrential rains trigger deadly floods in Morocco
Morocco — Torrential overnight rains triggered devastating flash floods in the coastal city of Safi, killing at least 37 people, Morocco’s Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Authorities reported that the sudden flooding inundated around 70 homes and businesses, swept away 10 vehicles, and left 14 people hospitalized. Local officials ordered schools in Safi to close for three days as emergency crews continued rescue and recovery operations.
The heavy rainfall also caused flooding and damage in other parts of the country, including the northern city of Tetouan and the mountain town of Tinghir.
Experts say climate change has made weather patterns in Morocco increasingly unpredictable. Years of prolonged drought across North Africa have hardened the soil, increasing runoff and making cities, mountains, and desert regions more vulnerable to sudden flooding.
Safi, located on Morocco’s Atlantic coast more than 320 kilometers south of the capital Rabat, is a major hub for the country’s fishing and phosphate mining industries, which employ thousands of workers. The city, home to more than 300,000 residents, hosts one of Morocco’s largest phosphate processing plants.
Videos circulating on social media showed vehicles stranded and partially submerged as floodwaters surged through city streets.
The disaster follows a series of deadly incidents across the region. Last year, floods in typically arid areas of Morocco and Algeria killed nearly two dozen people. Just days earlier, 22 people died in a two-building collapse in the historic city of Fez.
Although Morocco has invested in disaster-risk reduction programs, critics say weak enforcement of building codes and inadequate drainage systems continue to expose communities to extreme weather. Infrastructure inequalities have been a key issue in youth-led protests that swept the country earlier this year.
Authorities have urged residents to remain alert as weather conditions remain unstable.
