Safi floods: Saudi Arabia offers condolences to Morocco and affirms its solidarity with the victims

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia expressed the Kingdom’s sincere condolences and sympathy to the sisterly Kingdom of Morocco, its leadership, government and people, as a result of the devastating floods that swept through the city of Safi, causing significant human and material losses due to the heavy rains that recently fell on the region.

In an official statement, the Ministry affirmed the Kingdom’s full support and solidarity with its brothers in Morocco to overcome the repercussions of this tragic incident, expressing its deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to the families of the victims, and asking God Almighty to have mercy on them, to grant the injured a speedy recovery, and to protect the Kingdom of Morocco from all harm.

Details of the floods in the city of Safi

In the details of the natural disaster, 37 people died on Sunday in the city of Safi, located on the Atlantic coast, as a result of flash floods that followed record-breaking heavy rainfall. These floods inundated numerous homes and shops, bringing some neighborhoods to a standstill. The region recorded the highest number of deaths from such weather events in Morocco in a decade.

Moroccan local authorities reported that the city of Safi, which is about 300 kilometers south of the capital Rabat, was hit by severe and unprecedented thunderstorms, which caused exceptional flash floods in a short period of time not exceeding one hour, making it difficult to drain the water through the usual channels.

Saudi-Moroccan relations: Enduring solidarity

This expression of solidarity from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reflects the depth of the historical and fraternal relations that bind the two brotherly nations. Riyadh and Rabat have always stood shoulder to shoulder during crises and natural disasters, with coordination between the two leaderships characterized by high levels of cooperation and mutual support. This diplomatic statement affirms that matters affecting the security and well-being of the Moroccan people resonate deeply and receive direct attention from the Saudi leadership and people.

Climate change and infrastructure challenges

This incident highlights the growing challenges facing North African and Mediterranean countries as a result of global climate change. The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, such as sudden thunderstorms and flash floods, necessitates new disaster management strategies. Authorities in Morocco and other countries in the region are working diligently to upgrade infrastructure to better handle record rainfall over short periods, thus protecting lives and property in the future.