Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall killed five people and left others missing in Raqqa (northern Syria) and Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria) governorates on Thursday, October 29. The flooding also caused a bridge to collapse, cut off major roads and telecommunications services, and swept away vehicles, as rescue operations and efforts to address the damage continued.

The damage followed thunderstorms across large parts of northeastern Syria on Wednesday evening, October 28. Warnings continued to urge people to stay away from valleys and flood channels and avoid damaged roads until the danger had passed.

Raqqa: Two Deaths and Road Closures

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Raqqa reported that flood damage was concentrated mainly in Tabqa and al-Safsafa (western Raqqa governorate). Flooding also caused al-Salmani Bridge on the Aleppo-Raqqa road to collapse, killing one person and leaving others missing, according to residents.

A boy, Yassin Mohammed Ali al-Darwish, drowned in a valley following flooding and heavy rainfall in Hunayda village (Raqqa countryside).

Floodwaters also cut off major roads in the governorate, including the Raqqa-Deir Ezzor road at the Khunayfis Bridge diversion in the Maadan area (eastern Raqqa governorate), and the Hunayda-Jaideen road in the Raqqa countryside, according to the Raqqa Media Directorate. The directorate urged residents to avoid the latter road until the danger had passed.

The road damage disrupted travel between several areas.

Al-Furat University announced the suspension of all classes, administrative work and examinations on Thursday at its three branches in Deir Ezzor, Raqqa and al-Hasakah (northeastern Syria), citing severe weather, blocked roads and closed crossings.

Three Deaths in Deir Ezzor

Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Deir Ezzor reported that 13-year-old Khaled al-Ayada drowned in flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in Hammar al-Ali (western Deir Ezzor countryside).

Another person drowned in floodwaters in Harabish on the Deir Ezzor-Damascus road. Harib Mohammed al-Khalaf, 50, from al-Susah (eastern Deir Ezzor countryside), also drowned after floodwaters swept him away in Harabish.

Flooding cut off roads connecting Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, as well as the Deir Ezzor-Damascus road.

Syrian army helicopters took part in rescuing people stranded on the Deir Ezzor-Damascus road in al-Shoula and Harabish (south of Deir Ezzor), as powerful floodwaters swept away several vehicles.

The damage extended beyond roads and transport. Internet and telecommunications services were interrupted across the governorate after fiber-optic cables were damaged along the Homs-Palmyra-Deir Ezzor and Aleppo-Raqqa-Deir Ezzor routes, according to information relayed by the Deir Ezzor Media Directorate.

The directorate said technical teams had begun locating the faults ahead of repairs to restore services.

Deir Ezzor’s Emergency Response Committee had announced the suspension of all transport services to other governorates until further notice. It also closed pontoon bridges in Deir Ezzor city and al-Mayadeen (eastern Deir Ezzor governorate), and warned of flash flood risks around Wadi al-Sawab near al-Bukamal (eastern Deir Ezzor governorate, near the Iraqi border).

The committee announced that all pontoon bridges in Deir Ezzor city and al-Mayadeen would remain closed until further notice because of the weather conditions and the risk of lightning and thunderstorms.

The General Company for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Deir Ezzor temporarily shut down drinking water pumping stations in the western countryside after heavy rainfall increased turbidity in the Euphrates River.

Flood damage and road closures in Harabish, south of Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria), October 29, 2026 (Enab Baladi)

Flood damage and road closures in Haribshah, south of Deir Ezzor (eastern Syria), October 29, 2026 (Enab Baladi)

Emergency Minister: 15 Civilians Rescued

Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh said on X that ministry teams had rescued 15 civilians whose vehicles were surrounded by floodwaters. Preliminary information also indicated that one person had died in a traffic accident in the western Raqqa countryside.

The teams coordinated the evacuation of 375 families from Sahlat al-Banat, al-Younani and al-Maqass camps (Raqqa countryside), which were affected after rainwater entered the sites.

He said the ministry had coordinated with the Defense Ministry to send helicopters to rescue people stranded by flooding in Deir Ezzor.

Teams carried out extensive work to pump out and drain water from streets, residential neighborhoods, homes and public facilities. Their work covered more than 150 homes and public facilities, including two hospitals, schools and bakeries. They also reopened dozens of roads blocked by standing water or rocks and stones carried by floodwaters.

The response to severe weather, heavy rainfall and flash floods covered Aleppo (northern Syria), Raqqa, Deir Ezzor, al-Hasakah, Hama (central Syria), Homs (central Syria) and Latakia (western Syria) governorates. More than 350 reports had been received by midnight on October 28, most of them from Raqqa, and were being handled in order of priority. Teams carried out 165 simultaneous field response operations, according to the minister.

Teams were continuing their field operations while increasing readiness along the Syrian coast ahead of forecast heavy rainfall, al-Saleh added.

He urged residents to avoid taking risks or crossing any flowing water or flood channel, however shallow, and to follow Interior Ministry guidance on closed roads and alternative routes.

Precautionary Measures

Local authorities took precautionary measures to prevent further harm, including suspending transport between Deir Ezzor and other governorates, closing pontoon bridges and warning of flash flood risks around Wadi al-Sawab.

The Syrian Education Ministry announced a one-day suspension of classes in Raqqa, Deir Ezzor and al-Hasakah governorates on Thursday, October 29.

Large parts of Raqqa, al-Hasakah and Deir Ezzor, along with areas in eastern Homs, Hama and Aleppo, experienced thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong downdrafts. These caused flooding, flash floods, water flowing through valleys and road closures, as field response operations continued alongside warnings about the risks of traveling near waterways.