Authorities distribute aid to tens of thousands of families hit by deadly winter storm

Morocco launches a national emergency relief operation to support families affected by severe winter weather, as communities across the country grapple with hardship deadly flood and plummeting temperatures.

The aid package, announced on Tuesday, will benefit some 73,000 families in 28 provinces hit by freezing temperatures, heavy rains and snowstorms, authorities said.

Weather officials warned hazardous conditions would continue in the coming days and authorities were distributing food and blankets to families in affected areas.

Catastrophic flash floods hit the coastal city of Safi on Sunday, with sudden flooding inundating the city and killing 37 people.

About 70 houses and shops were destroyed damaged After just an hour of heavy rainfall, torrents of mud swept away vehicles on the street and trapped residents inside buildings.

Officials said 14 people required hospitalization, with two remaining in intensive care. Schools across Safi have been closed for at least three days as debris and mud continue to block roads.

The disaster occurred in the Bab Chabaa area, with water levels soaring to about 4 meters (13 feet) in some areas. A 67-year-old activist resident described being trapped after shopkeepers locked themselves inside their shops as floodwaters rose rapidly, leaving some traders and workers unable to escape.

One mother of six told reporters her family had “lost everything”, while another resident said she fled her home with only the clothes she was wearing.

Prosecutors have begun investigating whether infrastructure failures contributed to the scale of the tragedy. While government meteorologists noted the rainfall was typical for the region, officials were examining whether inadequate drainage systems may have worsened the flooding.

The weather service on Tuesday issued a red alert for up to 80 centimeters (31 inches) of snowfall in the High Atlas Mountains and an orange alert for heavy rain in central and northern areas.

In mountainous areas southeast of the capital Rabat, snow depths reached 50 centimeters (20 inches) and night temperatures dropped below freezing.

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

Days after Safi disaster, 22 dead Two buildings collapsed in the historic city of Fes, New questions are raised about building standards and urban infrastructure in old Moroccan cities.