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The UAE expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco, for the victims of the floods that swept through several areas in the south of the country due to heavy rains, resulting in the death and injury of a number of people, and the occurrence of significant material losses.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Kingdom of Morocco, its brotherly people, and the families of the victims, wishing a speedy recovery to all the injured.
Eleven people have died as a result of severe flooding that has swept through 17 provinces in Morocco since last Saturday, while nine people are still missing, according to a preliminary toll announced by the Moroccan Ministry of Interior. The official spokesman for the ministry, Rachid El Khalfi, explained that heavy thunderstorms caused the death of seven people in the province of Tata, two people in the province of Tiznit, and two in Errachidia. He also pointed out that the amount of rainfall recorded reached exceptional levels, as it was recorded at 250 mm in Tata, 203 mm in Tinghir, 114 mm in Figuig, and 82 mm in Ouarzazate, which is equivalent to half the annual rainfall in some areas.
Regarding material losses, he pointed out that the floods that swept through 17 provinces caused huge material losses, as 40 homes collapsed, 24 of which were completely destroyed, in addition to the total or partial collapse of four medium-sized technical facilities. 93 road sections were also damaged, including national, regional and provincial roads, which led to traffic disruption in some areas. Damage was also inflicted on electricity, drinking water and telephone networks.
The official spokesman explained that efforts are still ongoing to break the isolation of the affected areas and restore road networks and basic infrastructure. In a related context, the Ministry of Interior called on local residents and visitors to the affected areas to take the utmost caution and adhere to the authorities’ instructions to ensure their safety, especially since the weather conditions are still unstable. Several areas in Morocco witnessed heavy thunderstorms accompanied by hail and gusts of wind last Saturday, prompting the General Directorate of Meteorology to issue a red alert warning bulletin.
