Morocco: Flood Kills 24 in Illegal Factory

Morocco

At least 24 people have died after rains flooded an illegal textile factory in Morocco, authorities said Monday. So far, 10 people have been rescued, with more still trapped in the flooded workshop.

The incident occurred in the underground of a residential villa in the northern city of Tangier, at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. The port city is the country’s second most important industrial center, after Casablanca.

Local authorities in the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region have opened an investigation into the flooding of the textile factory. They say they were unaware of its existence before the flood.

Around one-third of Moroccans work in the informal economy, accounting for 14% of the country’s GDP, according to Morocco’s planning agency.