At least 37 people have died after torrential rains triggered flash floods in the Moroccan coastal city of Safi, the Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday.
Authorities reported that heavy overnight rainfall inundated around 70 homes and businesses, swept away 10 vehicles, and left 14 people hospitalized. Local schools announced three days of closures in response to the disaster.
Flooding also affected other parts of Morocco, including the northern city of Tetouan and the mountain town of Tinghir. Videos shared on social media showed streets in Safi submerged, with cars stranded in fast-moving waters.
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Safi, located more than 320 kilometers (200 miles) from the capital Rabat, is a key hub for Morocco’s fishing and mining industries, employing thousands in the catch, processing, and export of critical commodities. The city is also home to a major phosphate processing plant and has a population exceeding 300,000.
Experts say climate change is increasing the unpredictability of Morocco’s weather. Years of drought have hardened soils, making mountains, plains, and deserts more vulnerable to flooding. Last year, floods in normally arid regions of Morocco and Algeria killed nearly two dozen people.
This week’s floods follow a separate tragedy in Fez, where 22 people died in the collapse of two buildings.
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Despite government investments in disaster risk initiatives, local authorities often struggle to enforce building codes and maintain adequate drainage systems, highlighting ongoing infrastructural inequities that sparked youth-led protests earlier this year.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.
