SAFI, Morocco – At least 37 people are dead following catastrophic flash floods that struck central Morocco on Sunday, triggered by a sudden deluge of torrential rain. The disaster hit the Atlantic coastal province of Safi, located approximately 330 kilometers (205 miles) south of the capital, Rabat, according to a report Monday by Morocco’s state-run broadcaster, 2M TV.
The channel, citing local authorities, reported that an additional fourteen people were injured and are currently receiving medical care. Rescue operations are ongoing in difficult conditions.
The flooding struck with shocking speed. Authorities indicated that just one hour of intense rainfall was enough to submerge the historic old town of Safi, inundating homes and businesses. The powerful surge of water swept vehicles away, severed key roads in surrounding areas, and caused extensive damage to infrastructure, hampering emergency response efforts.
This extreme weather event marks a dramatic and tragic shift for a nation that has been grappling with a severe, multi-year drought. For seven consecutive years, below-average rainfall has plagued Morocco, critically depleting its main reservoirs and straining water resources for agriculture and communities. The current storms are part of a larger system that is bringing heavy rain and significant snowfall to the Atlas Mountains—a vital source for the country’s water supply.
Climate experts point to the increasing frequency of such “weather whiplash” events—swinging abruptly from prolonged drought to intense precipitation—as a potential consequence of climate change. Dry, hardened soil from extended arid periods loses its ability to absorb water rapidly, significantly increasing the risk of devastating flash floods when heavy rains finally arrive.
Local and national emergency services, including the military, have been mobilized for search and rescue missions. Teams are working to clear debris, restore access to isolated communities, and assess the full scale of the damage. The government has not yet released estimates of the number of displaced persons or the material losses.
The tragedy in Safi has sent waves of grief across the kingdom, with citizens and officials expressing condolences to the victims’ families. As recovery efforts continue, the nation faces the dual challenge of managing immediate humanitarian needs while confronting the broader climatic vulnerabilities starkly highlighted by this disaster.
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