Home minister meets industrialists affected by floods in Berrechid

Moroccan Home minister, Driss Jettou, held on Wednesday a work session with industrialists of the industrial compound of Berrechid to look into measures needed to repair damages caused by the recent floods that hit the region.

Water inundated some 31 industrial units as the region was hit by heavy rains that made the Boumoussa River overflow.

Chairman of the local industrialists federation imputed the whole problems to a poor sanitation system. Local elected representatives say the project to renew the city's sewerage system -worth 320 million DH or US$ 29.09 mln- is hampered by the lack of financial resources.

Chairman of local industrialists also says 80% of the industrial compound were affected by the recent rainfalls and called for taking measures to prevent the repetition of the same floods when it rains again.

The home minister said it is necessary to start immediately evacuating the inundated industrial plants and said his department is ready to support the city authorities in finding resources to start carrying out the sewerage network renewal.

Thirteen people are reported to have died in Settat and Essaouira as a result of heavy rains that swept through parts of central and western Morocco.

The home minister had also visited Settat and Essaouira to get first hand information on the damages caused by the floods.