Rabat – The city of Marrakech, one of Morocco’s top tourist destinations, has been submerged following strong thunderstorms over the weekend.
The heavy rainfall left streets transformed into rivers and vehicles inundated.
Videos circulating on social media show cars partially submerged. The heavy rainfall came following a weather alert from the weather office, forecasting thunderstorms ranging from 20 to 60 milimeters and strong wind over the weekend.
The regions concerned included the city of Marrakech.
The flooding situation sparked a wave of concerns, mockery, and outrage among residents and observers alike.
Many took to social media, using hashtags like #InfrastructureMarrakech to express their frustrations, sharing videos of the soaked streets and submerged vehicles.
Many argued that the city, despite its importance as a major tourist destination, lacks adequate infrastructure to handle severe weather events.
The heavy rainfall also creportedly caused a leak at the Marrakech menara airport.
Videos show the alarming scene with water streaming through the roof and pooling on the airport floor.
Moroccan airports recorded 15,104,579 passengers during the first six months of this year.
The growth concerns Marrakech-Menara airport, which witnessed an increase of over 29% compared to the same period last year.
Marrakech has been also named a best destination by many renowned magazines, citing the city’s tourism assets.
In August, the red-washed city made it to the “Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best” by TripAdvisors.
Morocco has been grappling with severe flooding in several regions, leading to tragic consequences.
In September, recent extreme weather claimed the lives of over 11 individuals in Tata alone.
A bus was also swept away by the floods in the region, resulting in at least five fatalities.
The government pledged measures to address the situation, including the damaged infrastructure.
In July, Minister of Equipment Nizar Baraka said Morocco invests an average annual investment of $1.8 billion to upgrade its road infrastructure.
He added that the road operation and safety programs at the “forefront of the ministry’s concerns.”
