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Floods kill more than a dozen in Morocco, Algeria

By AAP Newswire

Sep 10, 2024

Floods kill more than a dozen in Morocco, Algeria — The normally arid mountains and deserts of North Africa have been pounded by deadly floods. -AP

Torrential downpours have hit North Africa's normally arid mountains and deserts, causing flooding that killed more than a dozen people in Morocco and Algeria and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.

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In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall. The downpours affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.

Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North Africa's Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.

Officials in Morocco said 11 people were killed over the weekend in rural areas where infrastructure has historically been lacking, and 24 homes collapsed. Nine people were missing. Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.

Rachid El Khalfi, Morocco's Interior Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement on Sunday that the government was working to restore communication and access to flooded regions in the "exceptional situation" and urged people to use caution.

In neighbouring Algeria, which held a presidential election over the weekend, authorities said at least five died in the country's desert provinces. Interior Minister Brahim Merad called the situation "catastrophic" on state-owned television.

Algeria's state-run news service APS said the government had sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help with emergency response efforts and rescue families stuck in their homes. The floods also damaged bridges and trains.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press