The Flood was a disaster, striking the Blidean Atlas, specifically the outskirts of the city of Blida. This river, which descends from Mount Iveroumen (ايڤرومن) and gathers several major tributaries such as Taberqachant (تبرقشانت) and Baba Mohammed (بابا امحمد), collects nearly all the water from the northern slope of Mount Chréa toward the Mitidja plain.
According to Le Tell newspaper in its June 1916 edition, on the days of 30 and 31 May and 1 June 1916, while spring was settling in and the weather was pleasant and lush across the Atlas and Blida, heavy rainfall began on the night of 30–31 May.
The meteorological station recorded:
- From 30 May at 21:00 to 31 May at 09:00 → 213 mm
- From 31 May at 09:00 to 18:00 → 90 mm
- From the night of 31 May to 1 June → 26 mm
A total of 329 mm in three days.
The station wrote: “We have never recorded such a number before.”
Oued Sidi El Kebir swept away all the crossings and small bridges between M’mich and Blida, between R’mel and Blida, and between Kaf El Hocine and the slaughterhouse area.
Terrifying nights were lived by the inhabitants. Houses, sheep, and crops were carried away. The strong flow of Oued Hamada triggered a landslide, causing part of the Hanous douar to collapse, where the Jebaylia lost 32 people.
Additional destruction included:
- The city’s irrigation canal destroyed
- Near-total damage to the Gonzalez paper factory
- The burial of La Fontaine Frache, cutting off drinking and irrigation water to the city
- Damage in Oued Beni Azzah (below Oued Abarrar), including the destruction of the main crossing and the bridge between Blida and ex-Dalmasi (أولاد يعيش), four meters long
- The complete destruction of the Martinez mill
- The collapse of the retaining wall and the bridge between Blida and Beni Merad (Khezrouna)
The newspaper added: these rains and floods reshaped the landscape and erased human-made structures. Death and devastation beyond repair…
It also noted that Oued El Kebir had done this before and would do it again whenever given the chance.