King Mohammed condoles Algerian president over casualties of floods

King Mohammed VI has sent Algerian president, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, a message of condolences and sympathy following the heavy casualties of floods that hit Algeria over the weekend.

"I learned with deep sadness and affliction the death of a great number of victims following the torrential rains that hit sisterly Algeria," the sovereign says in the message extending to the Algerian president and people his saddest condolences and sincere sympathy.

The sovereign also extends condolences and sympathy to the families of victims in the bereavement and prays God to grant the Algerian president and families of victims patience and solace and to welcome the victims in His mercy and vast paradise.

Algeria was hit by the worst floods in at least 20 years, leaving over 500 people dead, mostly in the capital city of Algiers.

Rescue services are battling to find more corpses in the debris in the hilly capital of Algiers, home to some 3.5 million people.

Heavy rain and strong gales on Friday and Saturday lashed coastal parts of the country.

Authorities asked residents with no urgent business in central Algiers to avoid it until Wednesday, the official APS news agency said.