Provisional report: 11 dead and 9 missing following heavy rainfall in the Kingdom
Following the very strong storms that occurred in seventeen wilayas and provinces of the Kingdom, the Ministry of the Interior reported, in a provisional report, that 11 deaths were recorded in each of the provinces of Tata (seven people), Tiznit (two people) and Errachidia (two people, one of whom was a foreign national).
The official spokesperson for the Interior Ministry explained, in a statement to the press on Sunday in Rabat, that these rains also gave rise to the registration of nine people missing in each of the provinces of Tata, Errachidia and Taroudant.
He added that these significant rainfalls recorded in the last two days represent about half of the amount of rainfall that the region experiences throughout the year. Sometimes, in some areas, it exceeds the usual annual amount, since 250 mm were recorded in the potato, 203 mm in Tinerhir, 114 mm in Figuig and 82 mm in Ouarzazate.
As for material losses, according to the official spokesperson, the affected areas recorded the following temporary toll:
– 40 houses collapsed, including 24 houses that completely collapsed.
– Total or partial collapse of four medium-sized technical installations.
– 93 road sections, including national, regional and regional roads, were damaged and traffic was interrupted, with public authorities having so far been able to restore traffic on 53 sections of them.
– Causing damage to electricity, drinking water and telephone supply networks.
The official spokesperson of the ministry confirmed that the local authorities and all the actors involved, including the Royal Armed Forces, the Royal Gendarmerie, the National Security, the Auxiliary and Protection Civil Forces, as well as the technical services concerned, worked to raise the level of mobilization from the first moments and to mobilize all the necessary human and logistical resources in order to intervene immediately to face this exceptional situation, and provide the necessary support to the population.
He stressed that the efforts of all those involved will continue for an hour to break the isolation of the affected areas and restart the road connectivity networks, electricity supply networks, drinking water and communication services.
He stressed that the efforts made are part of a global framework whose pillar is the proactive approach adopted by the public authorities in order to deal with the repercussions of this exceptional situation since August 29, 2024, by activating the work of vigilance committees, raising awareness among the local population and mobilizing all necessary means in potentially affected areas.
He concluded that the Ministry of the Interior calls on residents and visitors to the affected areas to exercise the utmost caution and avoid any behavior that could put their lives in danger, especially since the weather situation is still unstable, while fully respecting the directives and instructions of the authorities in order to preserve their safety.
