Severe downpours hit North Africa’s typically dry mountains and deserts over the weekend, leading to floods that claimed nearly two dozen lives in Morocco and Algeria, while damaging homes and vital infrastructure.
Moroccan authorities reported that two days of storms produced rainfall levels surpassing historic records, in some cases exceeding the yearly average.
The affected regions include areas that were impacted by a deadly earthquake the previous year. Meteorologists had forecasted the possibility of rare heavy rains in the Sahara Desert, where rainfall typically measures less than an inch annually.
Moroccan officials confirmed 18 deaths in rural areas with poor infrastructure, the collapse of 56 homes, and damage to drinking water, electrical systems, and major roads.
Foreigners from Canada and Peru were among the casualties in a popular tourist region known for its desert landscapes.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, Rachid El Khalfi, announced on Monday that the government was working to restore access and communications in the severely impacted areas, urging caution in the “exceptional situation.”
In Algeria, which recently held a presidential election, officials confirmed at least five deaths in the country’s desert provinces. Interior Minister Brahim Merad described the scene as “catastrophic” on national TV.
Thousands of civil protection and military personnel were deployed to assist in rescue efforts, and floodwaters also caused significant damage to bridges and railways.
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