Severe flooding that has swept through 17 provinces in Morocco since Saturday has killed 11 people, while 9 are still missing, according to a preliminary toll announced by the Ministry of Interior on Sunday evening.
The official spokesman for the ministry, Rachid El-Khalfi, explained that heavy thunderstorms caused deaths in the provinces of Tata (7 people), Tiznit (2 people), and Errachidia (2 people, one of whom was a foreign national). He also stated that the amount of rainfall recorded reached exceptional levels, as 250mm was recorded in Tata, 203mm in Tinghir, 114mm in Figuig, and 82mm in Ouarzazate, equivalent to half of the annual rainfall in some areas.
The floods caused significant material losses, as 40 homes were damaged, including 24 that completely collapsed. Some 93 road areas were also damaged, which led to traffic disruption in some areas. Electricity, drinking water and telephone networks were also damaged.
The official spokesman explained that efforts are still ongoing to restore access and communication to the affected areas and repair road networks and basic infrastructure.
As a result of the unstable weather conditions, the Ministry of Interior called on locals and visitors to take the utmost care and adhere to the authorities’ instructions to ensure their safety.
Several regions in Morocco witnessed heavy thunderstorms accompanied by hail and gusts of wind on Saturday, which prompted the General Directorate of Meteorology to issue a red weather warning.
READ: Morocco boosts water management with 16 new dam projects
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