Flooding kills more than 20 in Morocco and Algeria

[Pelican Press 0]

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Flooding ****** more than 20 in Morocco and Algeria

At least 23 people have been ******* after torrential downpours hit North *******’s normally arid deserts, causing flooding in Morocco and Algeria and destroying homes and critical infrastructure.

In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall. The downpours over the weekend affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.

Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North *******’s Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.

Officials in Morocco said 18 people were ******* in rural areas where infrastructure has historically been lacking, and 56 homes collapsed. Nine people were missing. Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.

Among the ***** in the region, where many tourists go to enjoy desert landscapes, were travellers from Canada and Peru.

Rachid El Khalfi, Morocco’s Interior Ministry spokesperson, said in a statement the government was working to restore communication and access to flooded regions in the “exceptional situation” and urged people to use caution.

In neighbouring Algeria, which held a presidential election over the weekend, authorities said at least five ***** in the country’s desert provinces.

Interior Minister Brahim Merad called the situation “catastrophic” on state-owned television.

Algeria’s state-run news service APS said the government had sent thousands of civil protection and military officers to help with emergency response efforts and rescue families stuck in their homes.

The floods also damaged bridges and trains.

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#Flooding #****** #Morocco #Algeria

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