37 people have died after flash floods struck Morocco’s Atlantic coastal province of Safi, authorities confirmed on Monday. Fourteen others remain in hospital, including two in intensive care, according to a government statement.
The floods, caused by torrential rains on Sunday, inundated homes and shops in Safi’s old town, swept away vehicles, and disrupted roads across the city, located about 300 km (205 miles) south of Rabat.
Schools were closed on Monday as residents assessed the damage and began cleaning their flooded properties. Local media shared footage of streets submerged under water, vehicles trapped in mud, and rescue teams using boats to assist stranded residents.
In one video posted by local news site Safigoud.com, a woman was seen being rescued from muddy floodwaters near an ancient gate in Safi’s old town. Authorities reported that at least 70 homes and businesses were affected by the flooding.
The extreme weather comes amid Morocco’s ongoing heavy rainfall and snowfall in the Atlas Mountains, following seven years of drought that left some of the country’s main reservoirs depleted.