At least 37 people have been killed after flash floods triggered by torrential rain swept through Morocco's Atlantic coastal province of Safi, local authorities have said.

The sudden downpour late on Sunday, 8 November, flooded homes and businesses in the historic old city of Safi, a port about 300 kilometres south of the capital, Rabat. Cars and mounds of rubbish were swept through the streets after just one hour of heavy rain.

At least 70 homes and businesses in the old city were flooded, according to local officials. Fourteen people were receiving treatment in hospital, including two in intensive care. Schools in the area were suspended and traffic was disrupted as search and rescue operations continued.

Provincial road 2300, linking Safi to the nearby town of Hrara, was among the worst affected routes, the Casablanca-based daily Le Matin reported. By Sunday evening, water levels had receded, leaving streets coated in mud and debris as residents searched for their belongings.

More rain on the way

Morocco's weather service forecast further heavy rain across the country, and a low-pressure system over Spain is bringing more heavy rainfall to Morocco, raising the risk of further flooding.

Forecasters warned that more than 50 millimetres of rain could fall in parts of the north-west by Wednesday, with heavy rain, thunderstorms and strong winds extending into Thursday, 12 November. The principal hazards include flash flooding in normally dry riverbeds, dangerous driving conditions in mountain areas, local damage to infrastructure and reduced visibility.

Residents in flood-prone areas have been urged to follow official warnings from Morocco's General Directorate of Meteorology and to avoid riverbeds and low-lying roads during heavy rain.

A country caught between drought and flood

The floods come after seven consecutive years of drought that drained major reservoirs across Morocco. The country's weather service said 2024 was the hottest year on record, and the sudden swing from prolonged dry conditions to intense rainfall has left many areas exposed to flash flooding.

Experts say the climate crisis is in part responsible for the extreme weather swings seen in the North African state, where dry ground absorbs heavy rain more slowly and water runs off quickly into streets and riverbeds.

Flash floods have struck Morocco repeatedly in the past. In 2021, 24 people died in flooding in Tangier, and earlier deadly floods were recorded in 1995 and 2002.

Authorities in Safi are continuing to assess the damage and support affected residents, while the weather service keeps the country under watch for the next round of heavy rain.

Sources: WE News English and Weather and Radar.