Death toll in Moroccan flooding rises to 13

RABAT (AFP) Nov 21, 2003
The death toll in severe flooding around Morocco's northern cities of Nador and Al Hoceima this week rose to 13 Friday, officials said.

The bodies of eight people swept away by three rivers were found in Nador and five others in Al Hoceima.

An earlier toll had spoken of five dead and five others missing.

Torrential storms on Monday and Tuesday brought down 100 millimetres (four inches) of rain in 12 hours, according to the Moroccan Map news agency.

The flooding of river valleys, notably in the Beni Bufrah region, cut off many roads and hampered rescue operations. Helicopters ferried emergency and food aid to flooded areas.

Artificial lakes at the Mohammed V and Machraa Hammadi dams reached maximum capacity of 331 million cubic meters and 180 million cubic meters respectively.

The supply of fresh water was cut off in many urban areas in the region Wednesday, including Al Hoceima, due to the high level of silt in the water supply.

TERRA.WIRE