At least 11 people have died and 1 is missing after more flooding in the north African countries of Morocco and Algeria.
Morocco
At least 11 people died in Morocco on 08 September after their bus was overturned by flood waters in Errachidia Province.
Morocco Press Agency (MAP) reported that the bus, enroute from Casablanca to Rissani, overturned at the bridge of “Oued Damchan ” in El Khank commune in the province of Errachidia, following flooding caused by heavy rain. Rescue crews evacuated 27 passengers from the bus, including several injured.
This is the fourth flood incident in the country since late August.
At least 7 people died after flash floods swept through a small village in Taroudant province, Souss-Massa Region on 28 August.
On 01 September heavy rain in the Atlas Mountains caused a massive debris flow in Imlil in Al Haouz Province, Marrakesh-Safi Region, resulting in widespread damage.
Two people died after a storm, heavy rain and floods in the province of Khenifra, Béni Mellal-Khénifra Region, on 02 September, 2019.
Algeria
Algeria Press Service (APS) reports that one person is missing after flash floods swept through the province of Bechar on 07 September.
APS said that the floods occurred after heavy rain during the afternoon of 07 September caused the Meliass wadi to overflow in the border town of Beni-Ounif, 100 km north of Bechar. Emergency teams along with local volunteers are searching for the missing person.
Bechar is close to the border with Morocco and about 300km east of Errachidia, location of the recent flood incident in Morocco.
Around 40 people had to be rescued from floods in northern Algeria at the start of September. In a 24 hour period to 01 September, 127.3mm of rain fell in the city of Skikda, around 4 times the monthly average for September. Civil Protection were called on to carry out rescues in Skikda and Jijel.
Authorities have warned of further heavy rain in the country over the coming days.
