Severe flooding caused by intense overnight rainfall has killed at least 37 people in the Moroccan coastal city of Safi, the Interior Ministry said on Monday.
Officials reported that flash floods inundated around 70 homes and commercial premises, sweeping away at least 10 vehicles. Fourteen people were hospitalized with injuries, according to the ministry.
Local media said schools in Safi announced closures for three days as authorities assessed damage and recovery efforts continued. Heavy rains also triggered flooding in other parts of the country, including the northern city of Tetouan and the mountain town of Tinghir.
Safi, located on Morocco’s Atlantic coast more than 320 kilometers south of the capital Rabat, is a key center for the nation’s fishing and mining industries. The city, home to more than 300,000 residents, hosts a major phosphate processing plant and employs thousands in industries linked to exports.
Videos circulating on social media showed floodwaters surging through city streets, leaving cars stranded and partially submerged.
Experts say climate change has made Morocco’s weather increasingly erratic. After years of prolonged drought that hardened soils, many regions have become more vulnerable to sudden flooding. Similar conditions last year led to floods in typically arid mountain and desert areas, killing nearly two dozen people in Morocco and neighboring Algeria.
The latest disaster follows last week’s tragedy in the city of Fez, where 22 people died when two buildings collapsed. While Morocco has invested in disaster risk reduction, critics note that weak enforcement of building regulations and inadequate drainage systems in some cities continue to exacerbate the impact of extreme weather. Infrastructure disparities were among the key issues highlighted during youth-led protests earlier this year.
