Rabat, September 09, 2024, The Europe Today: Moroccan authorities reported on Sunday that severe flooding, triggered by an “exceptional” climate phenomenon, has led to the deaths of four individuals and left 14 others missing in the southern province of Tata. The flooding, which began on Friday, has wreaked havoc across arid regions of southern Morocco and Algeria, marking a dramatic and devastating shift in weather patterns.
The local official in Tata confirmed the tragic toll, noting that eight homes in the area near Tamanart had been washed away by the intense floodwaters. “The toll may unfortunately rise,” the official, who wished to remain anonymous, said. The heavy rains have caused rivers to overflow and have significantly impacted rural communities.
Lhoussaine Youabd, spokesperson for the Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology, explained that the severe weather was due to an “extremely unstable tropical air mass” that brought about massive rainfall and violent thunderstorms. This unusual weather pattern has led to severe flooding in areas that typically experience arid conditions.
In specific terms, the Ouarzazate region received 47 millimeters of rain in just three hours, while Tagounite, close to the Algerian border, recorded 170 millimeters. These unprecedented rains have hit regions of Morocco that have been grappling with severe drought for the past six years, reducing dam levels to under 28 percent capacity by the end of August.
The situation is similarly dire in neighboring Algeria, where authorities confirmed one fatality and one missing person due to flooding in the south. In Illizi, a young girl was swept away by floodwaters, and another person remains unaccounted for after being trapped in a vehicle. Algerian civil defense teams have been engaged in rescue operations, helping families stranded by the floods in Illizi and Bechar.
Videos circulating on social media depict the Sahara desert and other southern regions inundated with water, while streets in Morocco’s Ouarzazate have been completely submerged. “We haven’t seen such rain for about 10 years,” reported local resident Omar Gana.
Accompanying the heavy rains were strong winds, reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour in Ouarzazate and 76 km/h in Marrakesh. These winds caused a notable optical phenomenon, giving the sky an orange hue, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology.
The flooding has exacerbated the already severe water stress in Morocco, highlighting the urgent need for continued focus on water management and climate resilience as the country faces the dual challenges of drought and extreme weather events.
