Tangier flooded by the rains, with interrupted traffic and tragic losses of human life

Three hours of rain were enough to flood, Monday, several neighborhoods in the city of Tangier. The heavy rains blocked roads and interrupted traffic in the northern city. At the Balafrej high school in the Zemmouri district, classes had to be cancelled without an official decision, after the building was flooded.

Beni Makada, Boukhalef, and the Aouama sectors were also affected, according to online local newspaper Tanja24. On Monday morning, local authorities reported numerous material damages and casualties in a clandestine textile plant. 

The unit located in the basement of a villa was flooded by the heavy rains. 28 workers were killed in the flooding while 10 others were injured after water damaged textile machines and caused a short circuit. According to 2M TV channel, the victims include men and women aged between 20 and 40.

New neighborhoods hit hard

The survivors were transferred in an emergency to the city's regional hospital, in order to receive the necessary first aid. Search operations are still underway to rescue potential survivors and recover dead bodies. Following the tragedy, the local authorities announced the opening of an investigation to shed light on the circumstances of the incident and determine the responsibilities.

The floods also affected the new sectors of Boukhalef. In addition to residential areas, the Abdelmalek Essaâdi university campus and the vicinity of the Ibn Battouta international airport were also impacted. 

Local authorities as well as the teams of Amendis, the delegated management company of water and electricity in Tangier, were dispatched to restore the operation of the sanitation and thus facilitate the normal resumption of traffic.

These floods come as the city of Casablanca was in the same situation in January, when several neighborhoods had turned into wading pools. These tragedies bring to the fore the problem of the relationship between the city and the delegated company in charge of sanitation, but also questions related to the readjustment of urban planning.