The death toll is climbing in Algeria and Morocco following severe flooding triggered by intense rainfall.
Over 20 people have lost their lives, with dozens more reported missing as floods inundated villages in these typically arid regions.
In Morocco, the floods have destroyed homes and severely impacted infrastructure, including roads, electricity, water supplies, and phone networks.
Officials noted that the storms over the weekend brought rainfalls surpassing the annual average in some areas. This deluge comes at a time when the country is grappling with a water shortage due to six consecutive years of drought.
Neighboring Algeria is facing similar devastation, with bridges and railways also affected by the flooding.
The government has deployed thousands of civil protection and military personnel to aid in emergency response and assist residents trapped in their homes.
Rescue operations are ongoing in both countries.