Moroccan authorities confirmed on Sunday that four people have lost their lives, and 14 others are missing due to severe flooding caused by an exceptional climate event affecting southern regions. The disaster struck as heavy rains began on Friday in the province of Tata, approximately 740 kilometres south of Rabat.Rising Toll in Rural AreasLocal officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that eight houses were washed away by floods in valleys near Tamanart, a rural area in the Tata region. While the death toll currently stands at four, officials warned that it may increase as rescue operations continue.Unusual Climate ConditionsLhoussaine Youabd, spokesman for the Moroccan General Directorate of Meteorology, described the flooding as the result of an extremely unstable tropical air mass moving northward, leading to violent thunderstorms and significant rainfall. The Ouarzazate region recorded 47 millimeters of rain in just three hours, while Tagounite, near the Algerian border, saw an astonishing 170 millimeters of rainfall.Youabd labelled the climate phenomenon as exceptional, as typically arid regions of southern Morocco and Algeria experienced extreme weather conditions. The areas affected have been suffering from severe drought for over six years, making the sudden influx of water particularly impactful.Neighbouring Algeria Also AffectedIn Algeria, one person has been confirmed dead, and another remains missing after flooding hit southern areas. Civil defense officials reported that a young girl was swept away by floodwaters in Illizi, and rescue efforts are ongoing for a person trapped in a vehicle. Several families have been rescued from flooded areas in Illizi and Bechar.Severe Weather ImpactThe storms in Morocco were accompanied by winds reaching up to 100 kilometers per hour in Ouarzazate and 76 kilometers per hour in Marrakesh, where the sky took on an orange hue due to the intensity of the weather.
