Rain floods Sahara
2005-03-09 14:53
Algiers - Two people were killed and nine were reported missing in Algerian floods this week following heavy rain in the Sahara, according to reports on Wednesday.
About 70 travellers were trapped when wadis (valleys) suddenly flooded in the downpours on Sunday and Monday and had to be rescued by army helicopters, newspapers reported.
Earlier reports spoke of two dead and five missing.
Rains have caused heavy damage to roads, fields under cultivation, power and telephone cables and water supplies, reports said.
Algeria has experienced continued storms and unusual cold since the end of February with record snowfall and torrential rain in the northeast, isolating communities. The army has been brought out to clear blocked roads in the eastern Kabylie region.
A total of at least 30 victims have died as a result of the storms, mainly due to road accidents.
The nine missing in the latest floods were apparently swept away by floodwaters near Tamanrasset, 1 900km south of the capital Algiers. - AFP
- SAPA