Algeria's army deployed hundreds of soldiers to the flood-stricken southern Ghardaia region to start a clear-up operation, an army spokesman said Monday.

Lieutenant Colonel Hakem Cheikh said that a number of regiments had been sent to the affected areas of Sel Bhaba, Hassi Mesbah, Genganem, Karkoura and the city of Ghardaia itself.

"The ANP (army) intervened in the first hours of the catastrophe to come to the aid of citizens in distress," he told the Algerian news agency APS.

A thousand police officers had been deployed to protect local people and their property, Cheikh added.

APS also reported Monday that nearly 1,800 hectares of farm land had been damaged by the flooding.

Official estimates say last Wednesday's floods killed 33 and injured 49 people, flooding 1,400 homes.