Record Floods Sweep Morocco's Atlantic Coast

RABAT, Morocco, November 29, 2002 (ENS) - The worst flash floods in 30 years have claimed at least 60 lives in several provinces on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent says most of the victims died when their houses, built in river beds, were swept away by flood waters. Another 10 people are still missing.

According to the Moroccan Red Crescent (MRC), up to 100,000 people have been affected by the rains across the country. Twenty thousand people are in need of immediate assistance after heavy rains and floods hit western Morocco.

The MRC is working to immediately provide food, shelter and warm clothes to 5,000 families who lost all their possessions in the rains. Tents, blankets, tarpaulins and warm clothes water purification tablets and jerrycans are being distributed.

Persistent rains plague Morocco at this time of year as shown in this flood image from 2001. (Photo by Bill and Cori)

"It is crucial to ensure that all families have enough food, especially during this holy month of Ramadan," said Badreddine Bensaoud, secretary general of the Moroccan Red Crescent.

Wheat, rice and other foods will be distributed to 20,000 people in Settat and Kenitra, two of the most affected provinces.

The Moroccan Red Crescent is also planning to set up health posts in areas of temporary shelter.

For the past week, some 100 Red Crescent volunteers struggling to evacuate families, clean thick mud out of homes, and provide psychological support to people who have lost relatives.

A fire triggered by the rains broke out in Morocco's biggest oil installation in the port of Mohammedia. The official MAP news agency said the fire at the SAMIR company refinery was brought under control Tuesday night, and there were no casualties.

The refinery was flooded by the rain-swollen El Maleh River. The flood lifted waste oil and brought it into contact with hot parts of the refinery, causing explosions and several fires. The fires did not touch the oil stocks and there were no gas leaks, the agency said.