BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Heavy rainfall struck Morocco’s Al Haouz province on Monday, triggering flash floods that killed one shepherd in the village of Imi N’Tala after strong currents swept him away, “Euromagreb” reported.
Al Haouz was the epicenter of the 2023 earthquake. Two years after, many survivors are still living in makeshift tents and temporary housing conditions, which are not equipped to sustain natural hazards. The flash floods swept through several other communities, including Asni and Ouirgane.
The storms also caused material damage and road closures, prompting local authorities to declare a state of alert. Rescue and emergency teams mobilized to assess the situation and provide assistance to affected residents.
Flooding was also felt in the Imlil region, where torrents carrying massive boulders and tree trunks devastated crops and washed away entire sections of roads.
The incident underscored the urgent need to strengthen flood prevention systems and improve infrastructure in vulnerable rural and mountainous zones, which often lack resources for rapid response.
Local groups urged authorities to adopt proactive strategies and deliver immediate aid to residents hit by the floods to prevent a repeat of the deadly disasters that threaten lives yearly.
Many residents of Al Haouz province are particularly vulnerable due to the stalled reconstruction efforts following the devastating 2023 earthquake that struck the area.
The 6.8-magnitude earthquake killed 3,000 people and destroyed thousands of homes, with many residents still living in slums two years later.
In the mountain valleys of Talat N’Yaaqoub, Ijjoukak, Imsker, Amsgin, and the surrounding douars, many survivors still live in unstable conditions, containers, or unfinished houses.
