In brief
On 31 October 2026, heavy rain in eastern Syria caused flash floods that killed seven people, five of whom were children, and injured seven others. Four remain missing as rescue teams continue to search flooded areas. Emergency agencies carried out more than 550 operations to rescue people and pump water from homes and public buildings.
On Saturday, October 31, 2026, heavy rains in eastern Syria triggered flash floods that killed seven people, including five children, and injured seven others, SANA reported. The damage was concentrated in Raqqa, Deir al‑Zor, Hasakah, and parts of Aleppo.
The sudden floods formed deep pools that swept local residents; five children drowned in the water, and a sixth death was caused by a traffic accident, according to an official statement.
Along with the fatality toll, four people remain missing as rescue teams continue to scour flooded areas, Raed al‑Saleh said in a statement posted on X.
The five children drowned in pools of water formed by the floods, while another person died in a traffic accident.
Raed al‑Saleh added that Syria’s civil defence teams have carried out more than 550 emergency operations since the storms began, rescuing 60 people trapped by floodwater and responding to more than 900 distress calls.
Evacuation efforts included moving over 350 students from two schools and helping 375 families leave camps in Raqqa province. Teams also responded to flooding at camps in rural Aleppo and Idlib, pumping water from about 250 homes and public buildings.
Flooding has damaged infrastructure, cut off roads, and forced many families to abandon their homes. The eastern provinces of Raqqa, Deir al‑Zor, and Hasakah have suffered extensive damage.
Most Syrian regions have been experiencing unstable weather accompanied by heavy rain and strong thunderstorms since Tuesday, compounding the humanitarian crisis.
The crisis has left communities fearful and displaced, with relief agencies scrambling to provide shelter and medical care to the injured and those who have been rescued.
Rescue teams remain on the scene, working late into the night to locate missing persons and deliver emergency assistance as the rains continue in the region.
Local authorities urge residents to stay alert for sudden weather changes and to follow evacuation orders promptly to avoid future casualties.
International aid groups have pledged additional support, but logistical challenges remain in reaching remote villages still submerged under floodwater.
