Torrential rains caused catastrophic flooding in southern Algeria over the weekend, leaving at least six people dead and several others missing. The unprecedented floods destroyed homes and vital infrastructure in the normally arid desert region.
Algeria’s interior minister, Brahim Merad, described the situation as ‘catastrophic’ in a statement on state television. Civil defence and army personnel have been deployed to help with rescue efforts and to assist families trapped by the floods.
Since Saturday evening and Sunday morning, successive communiqués from the civil protection services have reported the rescue of dozens of people trapped by the waters in several Saharan provinces, including Béchar, Tindouf, Naama, Beni Abbes (south-west), Tamanrasset and Illizi (south-east).
The National Gendarmerie (a force under the Ministry of Defence) posted videos on its official Facebook page showing traffic disruption on several roads in the southern provinces due to flooding.
In the province of Béchar (south-west), a bridge in the centre of the town was swept away by the force of the water, according to videos widely circulated on social media.
Civil protection teams intervened to evacuate families after the waters flooded many residential areas, particularly in the provinces of Naama and Béchar.
According to reports on social media, the heavy rains of recent days have replenished the reserves of dams in western and south-western Algeria, particularly in the provinces of Béchar and Tiaret, which have suffered severe drought and water shortages in recent months.
Since Saturday morning, the Algerian Meteorological Office has issued a series of warnings of very heavy rain and violent thunderstorms in several Saharan provinces, particularly in the southwest and extreme south of the country.
Morocco, Algeria’s eastern neighbour, has also been badly hit by the storms. At least 18 people were killed and more than 50 houses destroyed. Nine people are still missing, while rainfall in just two days exceeded historical averages and annual totals in some places.
The floods come just a year after a deadly earthquake rocked the mountainous regions of Morocco, highlighting the vulnerability of infrastructure in some parts of North Africa to extreme weather and natural disasters.
MN/te/lb/as/APA