Four children killed as storms flood towns and camps across Syria

A powerful low-pressure weather system sweeping across Syria since Saturday evening has killed four children in Raqqa province and caused widespread flooding, power outages and damage to homes and displacement camps across the country.

Heavy rainfall, strong winds and thunderstorms have affected large parts of Syria, submerging streets, inundating the camps of displaced people and disrupting electricity networks in several regions.

In the village of Al-Buhamad in Raqqa province in northern Syria, heavy rains caused the collapse of a mud house belonging to the al-Jawal family, killing their four his children.

Mohammed al-Jawal, a resident of the village, told The New Arab's sister outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed warned that many homes in the area remain vulnerable as rainfall continues.

"The collapsed house was made of mud," he said, adding that the tragedy had caused "shock and great sadness" among residents of the village.

Authorities have warned that further damage could occur to fragile homes in the region as the storm system continues.

The severe weather has also disrupted electricity supplies in Rif Dimashq province, which surrounds the Syrian capital Damascus. The General Electricity Company of Rif Dimashq said several medium-voltage feeders went out of service in the areas of Arbin, Saqba, Zabadani and Bloudan due to weather-related faults.

Mahmoud al-Dali, a resident of Saqba, told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed that the storm had caused widespread flooding and power cuts.

"Electricity was cut off from the entire neighbourhood for hours, while the streets filled with water and mud," he said, expressing hope that "the relevant authorities will act quickly before the damage worsens".

In the capital Damascus, continuous rainfall since Saturday night has flooded major streets, damaging property and disrupting daily life.

In northwest Syria’s Idlib province, heavy rainfall caused flash floods that inundated tents in displacement camps in the towns of Qah and Sarmada, threatening thousands of families who have lived in the camps for years.

Fatima Darwish, a resident of Idlib city, said floodwaters had entered homes and streets across the area.

"The rain has completely flooded the streets and water has entered our homes," she told Al-Araby Al-Jadeed. "We are trying to protect our children from the cold, but the situation is very difficult."

In northeastern Syria, flooding also hit Qamishli and parts of Hasakah province after drainage networks became blocked and water channels failed.

Floodwaters submerged the Aziziyah neighbourhood and other areas, while tents in displacement camps including Tala’i and Sari Kaniye were severely damaged, forcing some families to leave their shelters.

Aisha Mohammed, a displaced resident of the Tala’i camp, described the harsh conditions facing families after floodwaters entered the tents.

"We’ve been completely battered. By God, we’ve been battered… the tent has become like a gutter, and we’re carrying our children through the water," she said, warning that children and elderly people were particularly at risk.

Darwish Sino, another displaced resident of the same camp, said reaching some families remained difficult because of mud and standing water.

"The situation is very difficult and requires urgent intervention," he said.

The Syrian Meteorological Department had warned on Saturday that a low-pressure system would bring moderate to heavy rainfall, thunderstorms and strong winds across the country.

Authorities said the storm could lead to flash floods and water pooling in low-lying areas, particularly in the Jazira region and eastern Syria, with the system expected to continue affecting the country until Sunday evening before gradually weakening.

Storm-related crises occur frequently in Syria during seasonal weather systems due to weak infrastructure, deteriorating drainage networks and the fragile shelters used by many displaced families, most of which consist of tents or temporary structures.