Deadly Floods in Safi: Anger Boils Over Decades of Neglect as Morocco Prepares for AFCON Spotlight
In mid-December 2025, the coastal city of Safi in Morocco was struck by catastrophic flash floods that claimed at least 37 lives, injured dozens, and devastated historic neighborhoods. Triggered by torrential rains on December 14-15, muddy torrents surged through the streets of the old medina, sweeping away cars, inundating homes and shops, and exposing deep-seated infrastructure failures in a city long plagued by recurrent flooding.
The disaster centered on the Oued Chaâba, a seasonal river that bisects Safi’s ancient quarter. Typically dry, it transformed into a raging torrent after heavy rainfall, overwhelming outdated drainage systems and flooding low-lying areas like Bab Chaâba district to depths of up to four meters. Videos shared widely on social media captured the chaos: vehicles carried like toys, debris choking narrow alleys, and residents desperately fleeing rising waters.
A History of Repeated Tragedy and Unheeded Warnings
Safi’s vulnerability to flooding is no secret. Historical records document devastating floods dating back centuries—1647, 1791, 1855, 1927—and more recently in modern times. Despite this, residents and activists accuse authorities of chronic neglect, prioritizing grand projects elsewhere while ignoring basic upgrades to drainage, sewage, and river management in working-class areas.
“Safi has experienced a process of marginalisation,” said Abdellah Mzirda of a local solidarity commission formed in the wake of the floods. “There is neither development nor progress in Safi, even though it’s a city that produces phosphate—the resources here are significant.” Safi is a major hub for Morocco’s phosphate industry and fishing (including sardines), contributing substantially to national exports, yet locals feel these revenues bypass community needs.
Human rights groups like the Moroccan Association for Human Rights (AMDH) highlight how clogged drains, unfinished public works, and structures blocking natural water flow exacerbated the disaster. Some point to a concrete barrier near the coast redirecting floods back into residential zones.
Mounting Public Anger and Calls for Accountability
In the days following the floods, grief quickly turned to outrage. Political parties, trade unions, and civil society formed a “solidarity commission” decrying the tragedy as the “direct result of years of abandonment.” Youth movements, including GenZ 212, called for nationwide peaceful protests against institutional neglect and the “culture of silence.”
Critics contrast Safi’s plight with Morocco’s heavy investments in football infrastructure for co-hosting the 2030 FIFA World Cup and the ongoing AFCON 2025, set to kick off on December 21. “The state directs resources towards ostentatious investments like giant stadiums while neglecting basic services,” one activist group stated.
Schools in Safi remained closed for days as residents shoveled mud from homes and streets. Compensation remains uncertain, pending official declaration of a “catastrophic event” under Moroccan law.
Broader Context: Climate Change and National Vulnerabilities
The floods followed seven years of severe drought, emptying reservoirs and hardening soil, which worsened runoff. Climate experts note that warming trends are intensifying storms in North Africa. Similar flooding hit other regions like Tetouan and Errachidia, with protests there over diverted river courses.
As Morocco gears up to host AFCON amid global attention, the Safi tragedy underscores stark contrasts: world-class stadiums versus crumbling urban infrastructure in historic cities. Viral misinformation even claimed flood damage to Rabat venues, quickly debunked but highlighting sensitivities.
Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch addressed parliament, attributing the scale to intense rainfall, while authorities launched investigations. Yet for Safi’s residents—artisans famed for pottery, fishermen, and phosphate workers—the floods are a painful reminder of priorities askew.
Cleanup continues, but demands for accountability, infrastructure investment, and disaster preparedness grow louder. In a nation celebrating football triumphs, Safi’s voices call for equity beyond the pitch.
By: Juba Global News Network | JubaGlobal.com
