Seven people, including five children, lost their lives due to severe flooding in eastern Syria. This disaster occurred as heavy rainfall caused floods and damaged infrastructure in the Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Hasakah provinces.
Details of the flooding
According to Syria's Minister of Crisis Management and Relief, Raed Saleh, four other individuals are also missing, and rescue teams are searching in the flooded areas. Saleh reported that five children drowned in the floodwaters, and one other person died in a traffic accident. The details of the seventh person's death are still unclear.
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Impact of flooding on infrastructure
The floods have severely damaged the infrastructure of eastern Syria and parts of Aleppo province, leading to road closures and forcing families to leave their homes. Syrian civil defense teams have conducted over 550 emergency operations since the onset of the storms and rescued 60 people trapped in floodwaters. These teams have also responded to over 900 requests for assistance.
More than 350 students have been evacuated from two schools, and 375 families have left camps in Raqqa province. Rescue teams have also responded to flooding in camps located on the outskirts of Aleppo and Idlib, pumping water from around 250 homes and public buildings.
Economic effects and consequences
In Deir ez-Zor, the floods have damaged roads and communication infrastructure, disrupting transportation and communications. Reports indicate that heavy rainfall has also caused the collapse of seven waterways, cutting access to several areas. Educational authorities have suspended classes in Raqqa, Hasakah, and Deir ez-Zor provinces since Thursday due to adverse weather conditions, and unstable weather is expected to continue until Saturday.
