Floods in southern Morocco cause two dead and 14 missing as bus swept away

Floods and thunderstorms are hitting southern Morocco with the most virulence and consistency in 20 years. In the aftermath of heavy torrential rains in September, in the Tata region, two people have lost their lives and 14 others are still missing after a bus was swept away by floods. So far, no assessment of the damage has been made.

There have been traffic disruptions at several places due to damage to critical infrastructure such as roads and other engineering structures. Two people were killed after a passenger bus was swept down the Tata River and a woman is also missing in Douar Aigourten in Tekzmerte, Caïdat Adis, following severe flooding. Local authorities have rescued thirteen people, but fourteen passengers are still missing.

Heavy storms that caused flooding in the region have raised water levels in the Tata River to more than 2,300 cubic metres per second and in the Ziz River to 1,900 cubic metres per second.

The increased flow caused flooding in several neighbourhoods. The area has suffered severe damage, with multiple houses partially or totally collapsed despite early evacuations, according to initial assessments.

Roads and other major structures have been damaged, causing traffic problems in several areas. In the face of the crisis, the authorities have used resources to assist in rescue efforts and support those affected.

They are working to bring the area back together and protect the inhabitants. The local community is coming together to help with the effects of the floods as search efforts continue.

Tata, in southern Morocco, has diverse landscapes with fertile mountains and valleys that are essential for local agriculture. The area has an important cultural heritage, which has been influenced by Berber traditions. However, it is affected by the extreme weather it is currently experiencing due to climate change, which has become more common in recent years.

On the eve of the weekend, the General Directorate of Meteorology predicted heavy thunderstorms with hail and strong winds in several provinces of the Kingdom. The DGM issued a ‘red’ alert bulletin for the cities of Smara, Assa-Zag, Tata, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Tinghir and Errachidia.

According to the latest news from ‘Tata Press’, civil protection teams managed to rescue seven people. Other citizens managed to survive by swimming to a higher and safer place.

The authorities continued to search for the people affected by the incident, but it is not yet known how many victims there are. Also, some neighbours alerted rescue patrols to more cases of people drowning.

Residents who lost their homes in Dar Attaliba province were sheltered in local schools and establishments, local media reported. Schools are also closed on Saturday by decision of the Regional Directorate of National Education. The floods caused significant water and power cuts in the province, and the Annahda bridge, the most important bridge in the city, suffered a partial collapse.

The source reported that the provinces of Tata, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Assa Zak, Boulman, Taroudant, Tinghir, Smara, Jerada and Fakik are the most affected by the disruption of traffic due to the flooding of the valleys.

The most important axes affected include National Road No. 7 between Taroudant and Tata, National Road No. 9 between Ouarzazate and Zagora, National Road No. 10 between Ouarzazate and Tinghir on one side and Rachidia and Bouinan on the other, National Road No. 14 between Smara and Gediria, National Road n° 15 between Kersef, Ouattat El Hajj and Midelt, National Road n° 17 between Tata and Zagora, Regional Road n° 103 between Assa, Zak and Mahbas, Regional Road n° 111 between Tata and Ouarzazate, Regional Road n° 307 between Skoura and Gassat, and Regional Road n° 708 between Korama and Beni Tajit.

The Ministry of Equipment and Water has appealed to citizens and road users to exercise extreme caution in areas affected by heavy rains.

The Ministry of Interior urges residents of the provinces affected by bad weather to be alert to possible new risks. It is important that people stay away from flood-prone areas, such as rivers and valleys, to avoid any risk and it is important to follow the instructions of the authorities and intervention teams to keep everyone safe.