Deadly Flash Floods Strike Safi, Morocco After Torrential Rain, With More Storms Forecast

A Sudden Deluge in Safi

An intense burst of rain lasting about one hour transformed streets into rivers in Safi, Morocco. The Atlantic coastal city, roughly 300 kilometres south of Rabat, Morocco, was overwhelmed by a surge of muddy water that rushed through neighbourhoods, shops, and roadways. Cars were swept aside. Access routes were cut. The old city bore the brunt.

Authorities confirmed that at least 37 people lost their lives in the flash floods triggered by the torrential downpour on Sunday. The water rose quickly, inundating dozens of properties before residents could react.

Homes, Roads, and Daily Life Disrupted

At least 70 homes and businesses in the historic old city of Safi, Morocco, were flooded. Damage to roads severed traffic along multiple routes leading to and from the port city. Provincial road 2300, connecting Safi, Morocco, with Hrara, Morocco, to the northeast, was reported as particularly affected.

By Sunday evening, water levels began to recede. What remained was a thick layer of mud. Residents moved cautiously through soaked streets, sorting through debris in an effort to salvage belongings.

Casualties and Emergency Response

Emergency services treated dozens of injured residents. Officials reported between 14 and 32 people receiving hospital care, including two patients admitted to intensive care units. Most of the injured were later discharged.

Search and rescue operations continued after the floodwaters withdrew. Local authorities stated that measures were taken to secure affected areas and provide assistance to residents as teams searched for additional victims.

One resident, Marouane Tamer, voiced frustration amid the chaos. “Why were government trucks not sent to pump out the water?" he said, as quoted by AFP. His words echoed concerns heard across flooded streets.

Images of Destruction

Social media footage captured torrents of muddy water sweeping through Safi, Morocco, carrying cars and rubbish bins down narrow streets. Shops stood waterlogged. Doorways were clogged with debris. The old city, normally dense with daily activity, fell silent under a coat of silt.

More Rain Expected Across Morocco

Meteorological services warned that the threat was not over. Forecasts called for further heavy rainfall across Morocco on Tuesday, raising concerns in already saturated areas.

The floods arrived during a period of significant weather change. Morocco has seen heavy rain and snowfall in the Atlas Mountains following seven consecutive years of severe drought that left major reservoirs depleted. The General Directorate of Meteorology reported that 2024 was the hottest year on record for the country.

A Pattern of Deadly Flooding

Flash flooding has struck Morocco before with lethal consequences. In 2021, heavy rain caused 24 deaths after flooding engulfed an illegal underground textile workshop in Tangier, Morocco. Earlier episodes in 2014 and 2015 also brought widespread flooding across the country.

Sunday’s disaster followed another deadly incident days earlier, when the collapse of two buildings killed 19 people and injured 16 in Fes, Morocco. Together, the events underscored a period of heightened risk across urban areas.