Algeria – 2 Dead as Floods Hit Algiers and Souk Ahras

by in Africa, News

Two people have lost their lives after more flooding in Algeria. Flooding also caused widespread material damage in the capital Algiers and parts of Souk Ahras Province. This is the third flood event in Algeria this month.

Civil Protection search and rescue teams search for a man who went missing in flash floods in Souk Ahras Province in Algeria 11 September 2019 Algeria. Photo; Souk Ahras Civil Protection

News agency Algeria Press Service (APS) reported that torrential rain on 12 September, 2019 resulted in major flooding in the capital. Homes and businesses were damaged and traffic and public transport was severely disrupted. Images on Social Media showed flooded subway stations. Media also reported that flooding affected the new terminal at Houari Boumediene Airport.

As much as 40 mm of rain reportedly fell in just 40 minutes. The mean total precipitation for September in Algiers is 28.3 mm. Local observers said the heavy rain, along with some hail, was brought by the same weather system that affected parts of south-eastern Spain.

Flood water reached around 50cm deep in some areas of Algiers.  Authorities reported at least 17 flooded areas in the municipalities of Gheraga, Bir Mourad Rais, Baraki, El-Harrach, Bab El Oued, Dar El Beida, Bouzereah and Bab Ezzouar, which suffered some of the worst of the floods.

APS reported that 1 person died after a vehicle was trapped in flood waters in Bir Mourad Raïs, a town on the outskirts of Algiers, on 12 September. Emergency services had managed to rescue the victim, who later died in hospital. Several other vehicles were swept away in flooding in the Bir Mourad Raïs area.

Heavy rain also caused flooding further east in Souk Ahras Province. Local media reported one fatality in Djebel Zouabi, about 400km east of Algiers.

The victim went missing on 11 September after a bus was swept away by floods. The victim’s body was later found by Civil Protection search and rescue teams.

Local media also reported that flooding had caused severe damages in parts of Sedrata, Souk Ahras Province.

Civil Protection search and rescue teams search for a man who went missing in flash floods in Souk Ahras Province in Algeria 11 September 2019 Algeria. Photo; Souk Ahras Civil Protection

Social Media