21 People Killed After a Flood of Maroko, Residents Question the Slowness of the Government's Actions

Illustration of flash floods. (Hans Braxmeier-Pixabay)

JAKARTA - At least 21 people were killed after flash floods hit the coastal city of Safi, Morocco, on Sunday, December 14.

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AFP reported on Monday, December 15, that another 32 people were injured and taken to hospital, with most of the victims having been discharged.

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The flash flood also submerged 70 houses and business shops in the historic old town.

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Roads to and from the port city on the Atlantic coast were cut off by flooding that vehicles could not pass through.

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"It's a dark day," said resident Hamza Chdouani.

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Ahead of Sunday evening local time, the water level had receded, so residents had to search for their belongings in the middle of the mud material left over from the flash flood.

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Another resident, Marouane Tamer, questioned why the government had not sent equipment or trucks to pump the water out.

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Meanwhile, the SAR team is still looking for other possible victims.

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Morocco's weather agency expects heavy rains to return to the country on Tuesday.

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Extreme weather and flooding are not uncommon in Morocco. The country in Africa is known to often fight against severe drought in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year.

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The Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) said 2024 was the hottest year in Morocco in historical records, recording an average rainfall deficit of -24.7 percent.

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Fall in Morocco is usually marked by a gradual drop in temperature, but climate change has affected weather patterns and made storms more intense as a warmer atmosphere holds more water vapor and warmer seas can speed up the system.

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