Floods of the "Night of Horror" in Algeria.. 5 dead including children and extensive damage

Saturday night turned into a real nightmare for several Algerian provinces, after heavy rains caused floods and torrents that claimed the lives of five people, including two children and an infant, according to the civil protection services.

The floods swept through the provinces of Djelfa, M'sila, and Bouira, as well as other areas in the east and south of the country, where residents experienced harrowing moments as they tried to save themselves and their belongings. Some areas witnessed difficult evacuation and rescue operations involving citizens alongside civil protection personnel, after the torrents swept away several individuals, and the toll could have been heavier.

Video clips shared by citizens on social media documented the scale of the disaster, as water inundated the streets and homes in M'sila and Zemoura in Bouira, while others showed residents seeking refuge in higher ground to avoid the raging torrents.

The events sparked widespread debate in Algeria about the reasons for the recurrence of such disasters, as some attributed part of the responsibility to the blockage of drainage systems due to the accumulation of waste and negligence, while others pointed fingers at local authorities for not taking sufficient preventive measures despite meteorological warnings.

Expert in major risks, Said Sadi, confirmed in a statement to "Al Arabiya.net" that Algeria, like many countries around the world, faces increasing threats due to climate change, explaining that more than 35 provinces are at risk of flooding because many municipalities were built over active riverbeds, in addition to the fragility of the urban infrastructure.