Sahara deluge: Unprecedented rainfall claims 20 lives
The heaviest rains in 50 years have caused flooding in the Sahara, leaving residents completely unprepared. At least 20 people have died, and many are missing.
Unprecedented rainfall has led to flooding in the Sahara, providing some of the most drought-stricken regions with a volume of water not seen there for decades. Experts suggest this could significantly alter future weather forecasts.
This situation is unprecedented in recent history. Water quickly began to fill all the desert basins and flowed towards the villages. The flooding has particularly impacted Morocco and Algeria.
Tragic consequences of the flood
The residents were caught off guard by the force of nature and had nowhere to seek shelter. Torrential river currents inundated their buildings, reaching up to the rooftops. The latest figures indicate that at least 20 people have lost their lives, with many still missing.
The desert in southeastern Morocco is among the driest places in the world and rarely experiences rain in late summer.
NASA satellites have detected water encroaching into Lake Iriki, which had been dry for 50 years.
