Dozens killed as flash floods devastate Morocco’s Safi province

At least 37 people have been killed after torrential rainfall triggered deadly flash floods in Morocco’s Atlantic coastal province of Safi, authorities said on Monday.

Officials confirmed that 14 injured victims remain hospitalised, including two in intensive care.

Heavy rain on Sunday inundated homes and shops in Safi’s old town, swept away vehicles and cut off several roads in and around the port city, located about 300 kilometres south of the capital, Rabat. The flooding forced authorities to suspend school activities on Monday as residents began assessing damage and clearing debris from flooded properties.

Videos shared by local media showed streets submerged in muddy water, cars partially underwater and rescue teams using boats to reach trapped residents. One widely circulated clip showed a woman being pulled to safety after becoming trapped near an ancient gate in Safi’s old city.

Authorities said at least 70 homes and shops were damaged by the floods.

The disaster comes as Morocco experiences unusually heavy rain and snowfall in the Atlas Mountains, following seven years of drought that severely depleted key water reservoirs across the country.