Heavy rains in Sale and other cities cause damage and expose infrastructure weaknesses

Morocco is reeling from a wave of heavy rains that has caused serious flooding in several cities, leaving streets underwater, damaging homes, and disrupting daily life.

Heavy rainfall overnight left large parts of Salé, particularly the Saïd Haji neighborhood, underwater, raising concerns about the city’s drainage systems and urban preparedness.

Local authorities told Hespress English that Salé recorded 77 millimeters of rainfall in just 24 hours, the highest in the country for this storm.

Social media footage from Salé and nearby areas captured streets transformed into rivers, with residents navigating knee-deep water and cars partially submerged.

The flooding reignited debate over stormwater management and the city’s readiness to handle sudden, heavy rain, with online users criticizing both municipal planning and waste management practices.

“Following these heavy downpours, local authorities, in coordination with the public services management company, carried out continuous field interventions throughout the night to ensure proper absorption by the sewerage networks, particularly in the Chmaâou neighborhood, and to prevent any potential disruptions,” the authorities told Hespress English.

The floods in Saïd Haji caused serious material damage, particularly to vehicles. Residents reported that dozens of cars were submerged, some with water reaching steering wheel levels.

Many families were reportedly forced to clear clogged drains themselves after municipal services were delayed which revealed long-standing issues with blocked channels filled with waste.

One local, Kamal Abdelaziz, told Hespress that “all the water collects at a single point, at the main drain, where all channels are completely blocked. We called authorities repeatedly, but no one responded. Last night, no team came; we had to try cleaning the drains ourselves.”

Safi suffered the most devastating impact. Torrential rain fell in a very short span, some reports say in less than an hour, overwhelming drainage systems and causing flash floods that swept through neighborhoods, old medina streets, and main roadways.

Authorities confirmed that at least 37 people were killed in the flooding. Many others were injured and dozens of homes and shops were inundated with water and mud.

Rescue teams worked through rising waters to free trapped residents and to evacuate those in the most affected areas. Floodwaters also washed away vehicles and damaged key infrastructure, including roads that connect Safi to surrounding towns. Local schools announced multi‑day closures while families began cleanup efforts.

In the north, Tétouan and other nearby cities were hit with intense rain as well. Though the rainfall did not cause catastrophic loss of life like in Safi, the downpours triggered localized flooding in urban streets and low‑lying neighborhoods.

Residents reported water pooling quickly in main roads and alleyways, making travel difficult and disrupting everyday activities.

Rainfall totals in the north saw significant amounts, with cities like Tanger, Chefchaouen, Larache and Tétouan recording 20–50 mm of rain in a short period, enough to overwhelm older drainage systems and lead to standing floodwaters and blocked streets.

Local drivers and pedestrians had to contend with water rising above sidewalks and vehicles being slowed or halted by runoff, while city services worked to clear blocked drains and restore traffic flow.

Road networks in over 20 provinces nationwide were partly or fully cut due to water accumulation or debris, affecting regional travel and commerce.