Heavy rains and floods kill 17 in southern Morocco, cutting roads and sweeping away homes

This image taken with a mobile phone shows residents of Guelmim, south western Morocco, standing on top of vehicles while stranded by rising waters, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. Morocco’s government reports that heavy flooding in the south has killed at least 17 people with another 18 missing after heavy rains over the weekend. In the southern city of Guelmim alone, 13 people were killed by a flash flood that roared through a dry river bed, reported the Interior Ministry in a statement carried by the national news agency late Sunday. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

This image taken with a mobile phone shows residents of Guelmim, south western Morocco, standing on top of a vehicle while stranded by rising waters, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. Morocco’s government reports that heavy flooding in the south has killed at least 17 people with another 18 missing after heavy rains over the weekend. In the southern city of Guelmim alone, 13 people were killed by a flash flood that roared through a dry river bed, reported the Interior Ministry in a statement carried by the national news agency late Sunday. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

This image taken with a mobile phone shows residents of Guelmim, south western Morocco, watching the floodwaters, Monday, Nov. 24, 2014. Morocco’s government reports that heavy flooding in the south has killed at least 17 people with another 18 missing after heavy rains over the weekend. In the southern city of Guelmim alone, 13 people were killed by a flash flood that roared through a dry river bed, reported the Interior Ministry in a statement carried by the national news agency late Sunday. (AP Photo) (The Associated Press)

Morocco's government says heavy flooding in the south of the country has killed at least 17 people with a further 18 missing after heavy rains over the weekend.

In the southern city of Guelmim alone, 13 people were killed by a flash flood that roared through a dry river bed, reported the Interior Ministry in a statement carried by the national news agency late Sunday.

There has also been flooding around the resort city of Marrakech, highly popular with European tourists, with roads being cut and tour buses briefly stranded, according to local media.

The ministry added that at least 18 people have been reported missing.

The press has also reported that dozens of homes have been swept away and bridges cut by the flooding.