At least five people, including four children, have lost their lives as heavy rainfall and flash floods swept through several provinces in Syria, the Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management said.

According to a statement posted by the ministry on social media, the victims were swept away by floodwaters in the countryside of Raqqa and Deir ez-Zor.

Search and rescue teams continue efforts to locate five people reported missing in the provinces of Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Aleppo.

Rescue operations continue

The ministry said emergency teams rescued 25 people who had been stranded by floodwaters in Raqqa, Deir ez-Zor and Homs.

Authorities also evacuated 375 families from flood-affected displacement camps in Raqqa, while army helicopters joined rescue efforts to reach people stranded in inaccessible areas.

The ministry added that emergency crews had responded to more than 350 incidents, pumped floodwater from over 150 homes and public buildings, and continued operations in the affected areas. Flooding also damaged roads, bridges and other infrastructure in several locations.

Earlier this week, the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management had warned of heavy rainfall in Aleppo, Deir ez-Zor and western parts of the country, urging residents to take precautions as severe weather conditions persisted.(ILKHA)