Seven die in Morocco storms, floods

Storms and floods have killed seven people in Morocco in the past 24 hours, the country’s Interior Ministry said on Monday.

Five were drowned as floods swept down dry river beds, or wadis, following heavy rains and two were killed by lightning.

A dozen clay houses collapsed in the southern Zagora region, and there was damage in the southern provinces of Essaouira, Haouz, Azilal, Chichaoua and Errachidia, and in Oujda in the northeast close to the border with Algeria.

The ministry urged people living in areas where the weather remained bad to take care, especially when crossing wadis in spate.

Between October 9 and 11, exceptionally heavy rains left 11 dead and led to the collapse of two bridges and 500 houses, according to the ministry.—Sapa-AFP