By Sam Metz
Torrential downpours hit North Africa’s normally arid mountains and deserts over the weekend, causing flooding that killed nearly two dozen people in Morocco and Algeria and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure.
In Morocco, officials said the two days of storms surpassed historic averages, in some cases exceeding the annual average rainfall. The downpours affected some of the regions that experienced a deadly earthquake one year ago.
Meteorologists had predicted that a rare deluge could strike North Africa’s Sahara Desert, where many areas receive less than an inch of rain a year.
Officials in Morocco said 18 people were killed in rural areas where infrastructure has historically been lacking, and 56 homes collapsed. Nine people were missing.
Drinking water and electrical infrastructure were damaged, along with major roads.
Among the dead in the region, where many tourists go to enjoy desert landscapes, were foreigners from Canada and Peru.
Rachid El Khalfi,
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