Morocco Floods: 37 dead as climate extremes strike drought-stricken Nation
Devastating flash floods have claimed at least 37 lives in Morocco’s Safi coastal region, state television reports. The main port city witnessed vehicles and debris surging through streets following Sunday’s torrential downpours.
Local authorities confirm dozens remain hospitalized with injuries, while approximately 70 homes in the historic city center have been submerged. Road access has been severely compromised by damage and wreckage, leaving parts of the city isolated.
“I’ve lost everything all my clothes,” one resident told AFP, adding that only a neighbour’s generosity provided covering. Another survivor urgently called for government assistance to pump floodwaters from affected areas.
Emergency search and rescue operations continue throughout the region.
Climate experts link these extreme weather events to the ongoing climate crisis affecting North Africa. Morocco has endured seven consecutive years of drought, severely depleting water reserves, while 2024 marked the planet’s hottest year recorded.
The country now faces a stark reversal: Morocco’s meteorological service warns that heavy rainfall will persist through Tuesday, accompanied by snowfall blanketing the Atlas Mountains.
This dramatic shift from prolonged drought to sudden flooding exemplifies the increasingly volatile weather patterns gripping the region.
