Heavy rains, floods kill 9 in northern Algeria

Heavy rains, floods kill 9 in northern Algeria

2011-10-03 04:59:07 GMT+7 (ICT)

ALGIERS (BNO NEWS) -- At least nine people have been found dead after heavy rainfall caused serious flooding in parts of northern Algeria during the weekend, the government said on late Sunday evening. Several others remain missing.

The worst of the flooding began on Saturday as a result of heavy rainfall throughout the country, mainly in El Bayadh Province where all the fatalities were reported. Hundreds of homes were severely damaged, leaving many families homeless.

A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry's Civil Protection agency said nine bodies had been recovered as of Sunday evening. Among those killed were at least three children between the ages of 3 and 17. Two others were reported missing by their relatives.

In addition to residential homes, local authorities said a number of bridges had collapsed as a result of the heavy rains and strong winds which began on Friday. The African country often experiences flooding in October.

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