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Flash floods hit Asni region after heavy thunderstorms
Severe thunderstorms triggered flash floods in Morocco’s Asni commune, located in Al Haouz province, on Monday evening. The sudden downpour caused significant damage to local infrastructure and highlighted the growing climate challenges in the region.
Rivers overflow after intense rainfall
The storms, which began around 7 p.m., brought hail and caused the Imlil and Imnan rivers to overflow at their convergence into the Ghighaya river near Asni. Water levels rose rapidly, turning the mountainous terrain into a scene of rushing floodwaters.
According to local sources, the floods swept away equipment and machinery belonging to a company constructing a dam in the nearby Ouirgane area. The destruction underscores the vulnerability of development projects in the High Atlas Mountains to extreme weather events.
Climate challenges in Al Haouz
Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology had issued warnings ahead of time, forecasting severe thunderstorms, hail, and heat waves driven by the easterly “Chergui” winds across several regions. Despite these alerts, the intensity of Monday’s storms caught many by surprise.
The Asni region, nestled in the High Atlas Mountains, is particularly prone to flash floods due to its steep slopes, which channel heavy rainfall into fast-moving torrents. Weather experts attribute the increasing frequency of such extreme events to climate change, which is amplifying rainfall intensity and altering weather patterns.
Monitoring efforts continue
While no casualties have been reported, the destruction of construction equipment highlights the challenges of mitigating climate risks in mountainous areas. Local authorities are closely monitoring weather conditions, as additional storms could develop in the coming days.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for enhanced climate resilience in vulnerable regions like Al Haouz, where infrastructure and livelihoods remain exposed to the growing impacts of extreme weather.