At least 10 people died in the south Morocco when the waters of a swollen torrent swept away a bus, while 7 other passengers of the vehicle are still missing.
An earlier official count, which authorities made public on Saturday, put the death toll at two.
“Ten people died (…) and seven others remain missing after the bus accident that was swept away (by a torrent) at the level of Oued Tata,” the regional health directorate of the Tata region reported, according to the official Moroccan MAP news agency.
The torrential rains had already claimed the lives of at least 18 people two weeks ago in desert or semi-arid areas.
6 years of drought
Morocco is facing its worst drought in almost forty years. It has been going on for six years and is threatening the key agricultural sector (which contributes 11 to 14% of GDP and employs more than a third of the working population).
Experts note that heavy rains are allowing water levels in some dams to rise locally and replenish aquifers, but add that prolonged rains would be needed to return to normal levels after such a long drought.
Sources: APE-MPE, AFP
