Morocco’s Safi Devastated by Flash Floods: Dozens Dead, Homes and Roads Swept Away

Suddenly, torrential rainfall hit Morocco’s coastal city of Safi on Sunday, resulting in flash floods with devastating consequences, including dozens of lives lost in an instant. With heavy rain in just an hour, muddy waters rushed through the city, knocking down cars, flooding dwellings, and blocking major roads.

At least 37 people were reported to have lost their lives in the flood, with over 30 others injured. The residents were being evacuated by rescue teams, which worked through the night in a search for people missing due to the receding water levels in the evening. The old city of Safi suffered greatly, with approximately 70 homes and business establishments under water.

The floods bring into focus Morocco’s increasing vulnerability to harsh climatic conditions. Having suffered seven years of intense drought, Morocco is now getting heavy rainfall and snow in the Atlas Mountains. The region, which had suffered intense drought, finds itself unable to cope with these climatic changes.

Forecasts have indicated a series of heavy rainfall events in the coming days, leading to a fear of further floods in the region. The disaster has brought forth an immediate call for enhanced flood protection and a strategy for better disaster preparedness against unpredictable climate patterns.

A tragedy such as this leaves a mark on the people of Safi, which will take years to erase. A death in the family, a business on the verge of collapse, and a city trying to piece things back together is all this flood wants to leave in its wake.