A total of 18 people have died, including a Spanish tourist, as heavy floods swept across central Morocco over the weekend. Torrential rains, which began on Friday, caused widespread devastation, with several provinces severely affected.
The floods have also left four people missing, according to an updated report from the Moroccan Ministry of Interior.
International victims
Among the victims are three foreigners: a Spanish woman, a Peruvian, and a Canadian. The Spanish woman died in a traffic accident caused by the torrential rains, as confirmed by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Spanish Consulate has informed the woman’s family, and the deputy consul in Casablanca has travelled to Marrakech to provide assistance.
#Internacional Graves inundaciones en #Marruecos dejan un saldo de 11 muertos y 9 desaparecidos ⚠️Las lluvias podrían continuar en los próximos días, por lo que se mantiene el estado de alerta en varias áreas del país. pic.twitter.com/Ii6sSBcF1U
— Eltiempo.es (@ElTiempoes) September 9, 2024
The worst-hit province was Tata, where ten people lost their lives. In Errachidia, three people died, including the Peruvian and Canadian victims. Two more victims were reported in Tiznit, and another two in Tinghir, where the Spanish woman died. One additional death occurred in Tarudant, the Ministry of Interior detailed in its statement.
Widespread damage
The floods have caused significant destruction across several regions. A total of 56 houses were severely damaged, 27 of which were completely destroyed. Eight historic buildings were also either partially or fully demolished. There were disruptions to water, electricity, and phone services, although technical teams have managed to repair much of the damage. Traffic was cut off on 110 roads, but 84 have since been reopened.
Record rainfall
The Moroccan Directorate of Meteorology had issued a red alert for heavy rains from Friday to Sunday for the provinces of Zagora, Tinghir, Errachidia, Ouarzazate, and Tata. In some areas, the rains amounted to nearly half of the regions’ annual average rainfall. In Tata, 250 millimetres fell per hour, while Tinghir recorded 203 millimetres, Figuig saw 114 millimetres, and Ouarzazate experienced 82 millimetres.
The heavy rains impacted a total of 17 provinces across Morocco, many of which were still recovering from a devastating earthquake that claimed 3,000 lives in the Atlas Mountains just a year ago.