Morocco: Deadly flash floods paralyse the country

Unprecedented rainfall and flash floods have caused the death of 37 people in the coastal city of Safi, as well as significant damage across Morocco, reports Le Matin on 15th December. Over 60mm of rain fell on the city’s historic centre in a few hours, creating a torrent of mud that swept cars and bins across the streets.

Local authorities in Safi held an emergency meeting with regional leaders and state services to assess the damage and implement emergency measures.

Videos have also emerged of similar floods in the capital Rabat, as well as Tetouan and Chefchaouen in northern Morocco, causing significant damage. There were also floods in the mountainous Draa-Tafilalet region. One death was reported in Tinghir, with two more people missing. In the southern Ouarzazate region, there were reports of villages being completely isolated due to heavy snowfall, preventing access to affected areas.

Morocco invested millions in emergency equipment earlier in 2025 to be able to respond to natural disasters faster and more efficiently. However, flash floods are unpredictable, and the architecture of Morocco’s old medinas, with poor drainage, makes them particularly vulnerable.

Morocco has been increasingly affected by climate change, with recurrent droughts severely impacting the agricultural sector and reducing harvests in recent years, while extreme weather events have become more frequent.

Experts also cite a rise in major natural disasters, such as the deadly earthquake that struck Marrakech in 2023.

Climate expert Ali Cherroud comments that Morocco’s unique geography, with miles of coast as well as a range of mountains, makes it particularly exposed to a “wide spectrum of seasonal and non-seasonal disasters”.

International assessments and local evidence increasingly point to climate preparedness as an essential national priority for Morocco.

Le Matin, Hespress, Maghrebi.org