Dozens killed in Morocco floods

Twenty bodies have been recovered by rescue teams near Settat, but 11 people are still missing.

Torrential rain has been falling in the area for a week, but no casualties were reported until Monday.

In December last year, flash floods triggered by heavy rain killed 15 people and left hundreds homeless in the Settat and Essaouria regions.

Burst banks

Most of the casualties died when the river Bengueribi burst its banks after heavy rain on Sunday and water flooded a small village near the town of Berrechid, sweeping 31 people away.

A man and four of his five children were crushed overnight near Fez when their house collapsed.

Two other people are reported to have died when a river burst its banks in the town of Ben Ahmed, in the Settat region.

Interior Minister Mustapha Sahel has travelled to the area to assess the situation and help the victims of the floods.

Heavy rain has been reported in the region since 17 November, with as much as 100mm falling in 24 hours.

Last year, the Moroccan press strongly criticised the authorities for not having done enough to prevent severe flooding in the same region.