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The death toll from the Tata bus accident has risen to 10 as of Monday, with seven people still missing, according to the regional delegation of health and social protection in Tata province.
Mbarek Outchrift, president of the Iffous Forum, a local NGO, confirmed to Yabiladi today, citing local authorities, that two bodies—those of a man and a woman, whose identities are yet to be determined—were found today, approximately 30 kilometers from the bus crash site, swept away by floods.
In addition to the bus victims, search efforts continue for a young woman from the Ighourten village in Takzmirt, who went out to find her father, a shepherd, but has not returned. Her body has not yet been found.
Outchrift described the situation caused by recent floods as «catastrophic». In addition to the human casualties, many remain missing, and the region is suffering from «complete isolation due to road closures».
Floods cut off Tata
He also noted widespread damage, including the partial or total destruction of many homes (especially older ones), the loss of livestock, ruined crops, and the destruction of bridges and roads. Tata and its surrounding villages have effectively become disaster zones, cut off from the outside world.
Many affected families are suffering in silence. According to Outchrift, residents near the valleys around Tata have been evacuated to charitable centers in urban areas, while in rural areas, locals have shown solidarity by opening their homes to those displaced.
«These families need urgent support. For example, the nurse who died in the bus accident was the sole provider for her family, which now faces hardship. The material losses are immense, and urgent government intervention is required», said Outchrift.
The human rights activist called on the government and authorities to declare Tata province a disaster area to begin immediate reconstruction and restore economic and social stability. He also urged the activation of the Natural Disasters Fund to ensure compensation for individuals and communities across the province.
Outchrift also called for urgent measures to address the damage, prevent disease outbreaks, repair infrastructure, and support agriculture and rural communities. He emphasized the need to break the region's isolation by reopening roads and ensuring access to clean drinking water, even temporarily, through water tanks.
«We demand the rehabilitation of damaged roads, the restoration of electricity and telephone networks, and the repair of irrigation canals, wells, and agricultural land», he added. «The local population must be involved in decision-making about the future of the region».
Additionally, Outchrift called on authorities to assist herders and nomads once weather conditions improve, ensuring their safety and helping them recover losses.
Regarding schools, he noted that classes have resumed in urban areas, but rural schools remain disrupted due to damage to facilities.
It's worth noting that between September 19 and 21, 2024, the Kingdom experienced severe thunderstorms and heavy rains, leading to flooding in 44 road sections across several provinces, including Tata, Zagora, Ouarzazate, Assa Zag, Boulemane, and others. These floods caused exceptional water levels in valleys, sweeping away a bus in Oued Tata.
