Moroccan Storms by Matt Taylor
Violent storms have battered much of Morocco producing torrential rain and flash flooding, killing at least seven people.
The thunderstorms and prolonged downpours lashed the country throughout Monday causing rivers to swell and break their banks. Dozens of homes were inundated by the flood waters and many clay homes completely collapsed leaving scores homeless. Five people were reported to have drowned in the fast flowing flood waters with at least two others killed by lightning strikes. Some of the worst affected areas were across the provinces of Zagora, Essaouira, Azilal and also Oujda in the northeast close to the border with Algeria.
Severe weather has in fact been affecting Morocco at various times over the past few weeks. During the middle of October, torrential rain caused the death of eleven people and the collapse of two bridges and hundreds of homes.
Today will see a brief respite from the rain with many places expected to remain dry. However, the respite will be short lived as further heavy rain and thunderstorms are forecast to affect much of the country from midweek onwards, bringing the risk of renewed flooding for many.
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