Morocco launches emergency winter aid after deadly floods and freezing weather

Morocco has rolled out a nationwide emergency relief operation as severe winter weather batters large parts of the country, leaving dozens dead, homes destroyed and communities struggling with floods, snowstorms and freezing temperatures.

Authorities said on Tuesday that the aid programme will reach around 73,000 households across 28 provinces hit by torrential rain, heavy snowfall and cold snaps. Families in affected areas are receiving food supplies and blankets as officials warn that dangerous conditions are likely to persist.

The relief effort follows a devastating flash flood in the coastal city of Safi on Sunday that killed at least 37 people. The disaster struck after an intense downpour overwhelmed the city in just one hour, sending muddy torrents through streets, sweeping away vehicles and trapping residents inside homes and shops.

Around 70 houses and commercial premises were damaged. Fourteen people were taken to hospital, with two still in intensive care, according to officials. Schools in Safi have been closed for at least three days as emergency crews struggle to clear mud and debris blocking roads.

The worst-hit area was the Bab Chabaa district, where floodwaters reportedly reached up to four metres in some places. A 67-year-old rights activist described how shopkeepers became trapped after locking themselves inside their stores as water levels rose rapidly, leaving some workers with no escape.

Residents spoke of sudden devastation. A mother of six said her family had “lost everything”, while another woman said she fled her home with only the clothes she was wearing.

Prosecutors have launched an investigation into whether infrastructure failures contributed to the scale of the tragedy. While a government meteorologist said the rainfall itself was not unusual for the region, authorities are examining whether inadequate drainage systems worsened the flooding.

Meanwhile, weather officials issued a red alert on Tuesday for snowfall of up to 80cm in the High Atlas mountains, along with an orange alert for heavy rain across central and northern regions. In mountainous areas southeast of Rabat, snow has already piled up to 50cm, with overnight temperatures dropping below freezing.

The extreme weather comes after seven consecutive years of drought that have left Morocco’s major reservoirs severely depleted. Last year was the hottest on record for the country, and climate scientists say rising temperatures are making storms across North Africa more intense and less predictable.

The Safi floods also come just days after 22 people were killed when two buildings collapsed in the historic city of Fes.