Flooding in Algeria claims 30 lives

Torrential rains flash floods have claimed at least 30 lives and injured 50 others in Algeria while damaging hundreds of houses.

The flooding happened around the historic town of Ghardaia, about 600 kilometers south of Algiers. The town lies on the edge of the Sahara and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Algeria`s Interior Minister Noureddine Yazid Zerhouni said the floods are the worst for a century and warned of higher casualties

"State services are providing support to other victims," Ali Belkhir, chief public health officer said.

Ministers met Thursday in Algiers to assess the damage and the population`s needs, a government source said.

Around 300 members of the country`s national guard assisted in the rescue, using helicopters to airlift hundreds of people.

A report says about 363 tons of food, along with 1,000 tents and 200,000 blankets, were being sent to the zone.

BGAHAR