Casablanca, Dec 16: Torrential rains and flash floods have killed at least 37 people in Morocco’s coastal city of Safi, inundating about 70 homes and businesses and sweeping away 10 vehicles.Schools have closed for three days, while flooding also affected Tetouan and Tinghir. Safi, a key hub for fishing and phosphate mining with over 300,000 residents, saw streets submerged and vehicles stranded.
Climate change and years of drought have made Morocco’s terrain more flood-prone. Recent disasters, including a deadly building collapse in Fez, highlight infrastructural gaps, weak enforcement of building codes, and the country’s ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness.