Doha:Five people, including four children, lost their lives, and five others remain missing following severe rainfalls and flash floods that swept through multiple Syrian provinces. The fatalities were reported in the countryside areas of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor. The missing individuals were last seen in rural regions of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, and Aleppo.

According to Anadolu Agency – English, search operations for the missing individuals are ongoing in coordination with relevant authorities. Civil Defense teams have rescued 25 individuals who were trapped by floodwaters or whose vehicles were stranded in Raqqa in northern Syria, Deir ez-Zor in the east, and Homs in central Syria.

The Emergency and Disaster Management Ministry has stated that emergency teams continue to be actively deployed in the affected areas, responding to distress calls and assisting civilians. In Deir ez-Zor, Syrian army helicopters have been involved in the rescue efforts, helping those stranded by floodwaters and blocked roads. Military helicopters have successfully rescued two people trapped along the Deir ez-Zor-Palmyra road.

Emergency and Disaster Management Minister Raed al-Saleh indicated that all ministry teams are on high alert due to the heavy rainfall and flooding, with alerts covering multiple provinces including Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah, Hama, Homs, and Latakia. Civil Defense teams have conducted 165 field responses, rescuing 15 civilians and evacuating 375 families from flood-affected camps in Raqqa. The Sahlat al-Banat, Al-Younani, and Al-Maqas camps were among those evacuated.

The ministry received over 350 reports of flooding, which has rendered seven bridges, culverts, and dirt roads unusable. In the Kasrat Surur area of rural Raqqa, a collapsed dirt culvert left more than 100 families trapped, necessitating an emergency response. Teams have pumped and drained water from over 150 homes and public facilities, including hospitals, schools, and bakeries. The regions of Raqqa, Hasakah, Deir ez-Zor, and parts of Homs, Hama, and Aleppo have been hit by heavy thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds, leading to floods and damaged infrastructure. Rescue and emergency operations are ongoing.