Raqqa Authorities Mobilize to Combat Severe Flood Damage
Government authorities and service agencies in Raqqa have launched a widespread mobilization effort to address the fallout from a severe rainstorm that recently struck the region. Over the past few hours, civil defense teams have carried out more than 110 field response operations across the cities of Raqqa and Tabqa.
Rami Al-Salloum, Director of the Emergency and Disaster Management Directorate in Raqqa, confirmed that the storm triggered flooding that inundated approximately 110 homes. The severity of the weather, compounded by dilapidated infrastructure and the inability of sewage networks to manage the high volume of rainfall, has led to the displacement of nearly 375 families from affected camps, including the Al-Maqsad, Greek, and Sahlat al-Banat camps.
Al-Salloum detailed that civil defense teams have been working intensively to suction water from affected areas, clear drainage channels, and reopen blocked roads. Teams have also been tasked with recovering vehicles trapped by the floods and responding to various traffic accidents and fires resulting from the storm. Rescue crews successfully saved three women and four children who had been trapped by rising waters in separate locations.
Regarding public infrastructure, the floods have caused significant damage to the region’s road and bridge network. The Al-Salmani bridge on the Raqqa-Aleppo road has collapsed, and other bridges, including Kasrat Surour and Al-Qantara, have sustained damage. Furthermore, access to the city of Maadan has been severed due to the destruction of leading roads. Service authorities are intensifying their efforts to clear these vital routes to ensure the flow of traffic and the delivery of essential aid.
Dr. Abdul Qadir Al-Qawli, Director of the Tabqa National Hospital, announced that the facility has raised the readiness of its medical and emergency staff to receive casualties. He reported that the hospital has already treated two women who were swept away by the floodwaters. One fatality was recorded, and the body was transferred to the forensic medicine department in Aleppo. Simultaneously, municipalities in the cities of Tabqa and Al-Sabkha confirmed that they have fully mobilized their personnel and machinery to address water accumulation and mitigate damage, despite limited available resources.
The storm is part of a broader wave of thunderstorms that has impacted several Syrian provinces, including Al-Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, and parts of the countryside in Homs, Hama, and Aleppo. These weather events have caused valleys to flood and cut off major transit routes. Authorities are urging residents to strictly follow official instructions and refrain from spreading rumors to ensure their safety, while work crews continue their efforts to clear flood debris and repair the damaged infrastructure throughout the province.
Source: Syria Focus Arabic
