MOROCCO – The death toll from Morocco flash floods in the city of Safi have risen to 21.

The Safi Governorate said in a statement late Sunday that 21 people lost their lives due to “exceptional thunderstorms that hit the city on Sunday evening, triggering massive floods within a short period of time.”

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, and necessary measures have been taken to secure the affected areas and provide support to residents, it added.

On Sunday, Morocco’s state news agency, citing local officials, reported that exceptionally heavy rainfall over a short period – about an hour – unleashed powerful floodwaters that inundated homes and businesses across parts of the city.

The flooding followed intense thunderstorm activity.

Officials said 20 others were injured and are receiving medical treatment at the government-run Mohammed V Hospital in Safi.