Rabat, Morocco - Flooding sparked by heavy rains has killed 24 people and left hundreds homeless this month in northern and central Morocco, the Interior Ministry announced Monday.

More than 4,500 people have been evacuated from their homes, according to the ministry, which attributed the deaths mainly to collapsing buildings and rivers bursting their banks.

The worst hit regions included Sidi Slimane, 100 kilometres north of the capital Rabat.

Flooding continued Monday near the Mediterranean port of Saidia, where emergency workers were erecting dykes and digging canals in attempts to channel floodwater towards the sea.

Rail traffic remained suspended between Sidi Kacem and Tangier in the north.

Rains have also inundated nearly 60,000 hectares of farmland in western Morocco, the ministry said.

Several ministers and senior army officials visited disaster areas on Sunday to supervise emergency efforts.

The flooding followed the deaths of about 20 people in similar circumstances in November. (dpa)