Bandung, IndonesiaSentinel.com — A severe flash floods hit Morocco recently, causing widespread damage across various regions, especially the southern region of the country. Ironically, this disaster comes after a prolonged drought that had plagued the nation for several years.
Morocco has been experiencing one of its worst droughts in the past six years. Rainfall levels have decreased significantly, especially in regions dependent on rain for irrigation, leading to a significant decline in agricultural output. As one of North Africa’s largest producers of wheat and fruit, Morocco has faced serious threats to its food security.
The drought also took a toll on the country’s water reservoirs. Water levels have dropped to their lowest points in decades, shrinking the reservoir levels to less than 28 percent of capacity by the end of August.
However, in the last few days, extreme weather brought sudden and heavy rains to the southern region of Morocco, flooding areas that had long been barren. The floods have caused damage in urban and rural areas.
Impact of the Flash Floods
The floods that hit Morocco have not only caused material damage but also led to a tragic loss of life. Moroccan Interior Ministry spokesman Rachid Khalfi confirmed that the flash floods have caused at least 11 people to die and nine others to be missing. Among the victims, seven died in the province of Tata, some 740 kilometers south of Rabat, and two in Errachidia, almost 500 kilometers east of Marrakesh.
The floods also caused 40 houses to collapse and 93 roads to be damaged while also damaging the electricity, drinking water, and telephone networks.
UAE Announces Completion of First Nuclear Power Plant in Arab World
The Moroccan government has mobilized rescue teams and humanitarian aid to the affected areas. Search and rescue teams are working tirelessly to reach those stranded in hard-to-reach areas due to flooding and landslides.
The floods are also posing a threat to the agricultural sector of Morocco. Farmers in rural areas had been suffering from drought since the beginning of 2024. While farmers are still struggling to recover from drought, now they are facing new challenges from the floods. This is expected to further strain the economy in agricultural regions that rely heavily on farming.
Causes of the Flooding
Weather and climate experts attribute the flash floods that hit Morocco to extreme weather patterns driven by global warming. Rachid Khalfi said that the volume of rainfall recorded in two days is equivalent to the rainfall that the region usually experiences in a whole year.
According to the Moroccan Directorate General of Meteorology, the areas in southern Morocco have been affected by a very unstable tropical air mass. That led to the formation of unstable and violent clouds that caused massive rainfall, which is considered an extraordinary phenomenon.
Authorities have urged residents to remain vigilant, as more heavy rain is still expected in the coming days. Flood warnings have been issued for areas near the Oum Er-Rbia River, which is at risk of overflowing.
(Raidi/Agung)
