Damascus, March 22 (SANA) Severe storms and heavy rainfall swept across Syria in recent days, triggering flooding, road disruptions and emergency responses nationwide, while a series of traffic accidents left at least seven people dead and 53 injured, authorities said Sunday.
Civil defense teams carried out dozens of field operations as successive weather systems brought heavy rain across multiple regions, the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management said on its official Telegram channel.
On Saturday alone, teams conducted around 50 operations, including draining water from homes and public facilities, clearing blocked roads and opening drainage channels in camps and urban areas. Emergency crews also responded to partial building collapses in Damascus, with no casualties reported.
Floodwaters and mud left vehicles stranded in several areas, while roads were closed or damaged by runoff. Teams worked to reopen routes, remove debris and clear drainage systems, while taking preventive measures along rivers and flood channels to reduce the risk of further flooding.
The severe weather caused several traffic accidents, with 20 incidents reported over the past 24 hours across several provinces.
The deadliest incident occurred on the Homs–Damascus highway near the industrial city of Hisyah, where a chain collision involving nine vehicles, triggered by snow and hail, killed three people and injured 25 others, including children.
Separate accidents in eastern Homs and the coastal province of Tartous left four more people dead and several injured, officials said.
Emergency teams provided first aid at the scene and transported the injured to hospitals, while the bodies of victims were transferred to forensic authorities.
Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh urged residents to follow safety guidance, warning that dangerous road conditions linked to rain, snow and hail have increased the risk of serious accidents.
R.A
