Floods in Syria kill 2 people, put 7 bridges, roads out of service

Heavy thunderstorms swept across large parts of Syria on Wednesday, accompanied by hail and strong wind gusts. The heaviest rainfall affected Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor governorates, as well as the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and Homs, before spreading to other areas, including the Damascus countryside, Daraa and Tartus.

According to reports from ANHA correspondents and their field observations, the rainfall triggered flash floods, inundated areas and caused streams and valleys to overflow. The flooding resulted in deaths, left people missing, trapped civilians in rising waters and inundated homes and tents housing displaced families. It also caused bridges and water crossings to collapse and cut off major roads. Residents and rescue teams continued working to address the aftermath of the severe weather.

As of Thursday morning, the country's official authorities had not published figures on rainfall totals, measured in millimeters, across Syria's governorates.

The floods rendered seven bridges, culverts and dirt roads unusable, including structures on major inter-governorate highways, resulting in complete road closures.

Raqqa: Deaths, Missing People and Collapsed Bridges

In Raqqa Governorate, floodwaters near Al-Salmani Bridge, west of Tabqa, swept away a car carrying a family, killing one person. Search operations are continuing for people who were swept away by the water in the area.

Near Al-Rasafa Bridge, several people were reported missing after being swept away by the floods. Initial reports differed on the number of missing people, while search and rescue operations continued.

The floods caused Al-Salmaniya and Al-Kantri bridges to collapse and partially damaged Ratla Bridge. A dirt bridge in the village of Kasrat Sarur also collapsed, while floodwaters surrounded homes in the village of Fteih in western Raqqa countryside.

Dozens of homes in Raqqa, Tabqa, Tal Abyad and Mansoura were affected. The flooding also disrupted traffic and movement between several areas.

In displacement camps in Raqqa countryside, the rains and floods damaged the shelters of more than 375 families in camps housing displaced people from Tal Abyad and parts of Homs and Hama.

Roads Cut Off in Raqqa

Floodwaters cut the Aleppo–Raqqa road near Al-Salmani Bridge, west of Tabqa, disrupting traffic between the two areas.

The Raqqa–Deir ez-Zor road was also cut off at Al-Kharrar Bridge in the Al-Ghanem Al-Ali area, as rising water levels and damage to crossings made travel difficult.

Elsewhere in the governorate, floodwaters swept soil and rocks onto roads. Since morning, residents have been working to clear the debris and restore traffic after rainfall eased early Thursday.

Deir ez-Zor: Bridge Damage and Flood Warnings

In Deir ez-Zor Governorate, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods in several areas. The affected locations included Al-Kibar Bridge in the Al-Jazrat area, Al-Tarif Bridge, the Khan Al-Zahra area and Al-Shiha Bridge in the Al-Tabni area.

Traffic across military pontoon bridges in the cities of Deir ez-Zor and Mayadin also came to a halt amid risks posed by rising Euphrates water levels and strong currents.

Around Al-Bukamal and its surrounding desert areas, Wadi Al-Sawab and its tributaries experienced powerful flash floods. No other damage was reported, with the impact limited to roads connecting villages and towns being cut off.

The severe weather also disrupted transportation, temporarily suspending travel between Deir ez-Zor and other governorates. Some services resumed Thursday morning.

Hasakah: Displaced Families' Tents Flooded

In Hasakah Governorate, heavy rainfall caused water to accumulate in several areas and damaged displacement camps, particularly Washokani and Al-Talae camps, which house families displaced from Serêkaniyê.

ANHA correspondents reported that rainwater seeped into tents, damaging bedding, blankets and food supplies. Teams from the Kurdish Red Crescent, the Women's Protection Units (YPJ) and members of the Hasakah Brigade later arrived to assist residents.

The effects of the rainfall also extended to other camps across northern Syria, including Kherbet al-Joz, Kafr Lusin, Mashhad Ruhin, Atmeh, Bab al-Hawa and Deir Hassan. Water inundated areas surrounding tents, turning dirt grounds into mud and making movement difficult for residents.

Aleppo Countryside: Floods Trap Shepherd and Flock

In eastern Aleppo countryside, particularly in Kobani and its surrounding areas, heavy rainfall caused water levels to rise in several waterways, trapping a shepherd and his flock.

Residents and rescue teams managed to reach and rescue the shepherd. According to our correspondent, the flock consisted of more than 150 sheep. Around 70 were rescued, while approximately 80 others remained missing.

Hama and Homs: Flooding and Overflowing Valleys

Several areas in Hama countryside experienced heavy rainfall that triggered flash floods, particularly in the town of Aqrabat in the governorate's eastern countryside, where water flowed across low-lying land and natural drainage channels.

Areas in Homs countryside were also affected by the severe weather. Flooding disrupted parts of the Homs–Farqlus road, with efforts underway to address the closures and reopen the route.

Damascus Countryside: Deaths, Property Damage and Temporary Road Closures

In Damascus countryside, the rainstorm and strong winds caused property damage, including the collapse of parts of buildings, the dislodging of solar panels and the collapse of suspended ceilings.

In the Daf al-Sakhr area near Jaramana, a woman died after a wall from a residential balcony fell on her. Another woman died after being struck by a vehicle on the Damascus–Homs highway in the Qutayfah area.

Flooding also forced the partial closure of the Damascus–Daraa road near Deir Ali Bridge after rocks and soil were swept onto the roadway. Other roads were closed because of fallen trees and accumulated water, including the road linking Jaramana and Mleha, known as the Old Ghouta Road, and a major road in Zamalka.

Several of these roads reopened after obstructions were cleared and affected areas were secured. Work continued to drain accumulated water and assess the damage caused by the storm.

Daraa and Tartus: Water Accumulation Disrupts Traffic

In Daraa Governorate, rainfall flooded two ground-floor homes in the Al-Zahra and Maysaloun neighborhoods, causing property damage. Emergency efforts were subsequently launched to address the accumulated water.

Warnings as Severe Weather Continues

The unstable weather system, which began Tuesday afternoon, October 27, is expected to continue. Syria's meteorological authorities forecast further rainfall, thunderstorms, hail and strong wind gusts through early Saturday, October 31.

Concerns are growing that damage could spread in areas already affected by flooding, particularly around valleys, bridges and low-lying areas, as infrastructure, roads and displacement camps continue to suffer damage.

The weather conditions prompted the Ministry of Education to suspend classes on Thursday only in Hasakah, Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor governorates.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management urged residents to stay away from flood channels and roads inundated with water and warned against attempting to cross them.

A-H 

ANHA