Morocco urges evacuations as floods displace 108,000 people

Torrential rains have triggered one of Morocco’s largest flood evacuations in years, as rivers burst their banks and dams overflow across the northwest of the country, according to The New Arab plus agencies on February 4th.

More than 108,000 people have been evacuated in northern Morocco after authorities warned that further heavy rainfall is expected, compounding already severe flooding across low-lying regions.

Officials say rainfall is significantly above normal, intensifying risks from swollen rivers and overflowing reservoirs. The Interior Ministry confirmed that 108,432 people were moved from flood-affected areas, particularly in the country’s northwestern plains.

Residents were urged to leave immediately as water levels continued to rise due to persistent rain, saturated soil and the controlled release of water from dams operating beyond capacity.

Emergency services, supported by the army, have been deployed since January 30th to assist with evacuations, while helicopters have been used to rescue residents from submerged villages and farmland. A red alert remains in force, with authorities warning that additional rainfall could worsen conditions throughout the week.

The Gharb region, one of Morocco’s most important wheat-producing areas, has been hit especially hard. Its flat terrain and poor drainage have left towns and agricultural land vulnerable after weeks of rainfall.

In Ksar El Kebir, large parts of the city were submerged after the Loukous River burst its banks, prompting mass evacuations. Officials said around 85% of the city’s population has already fled, leaving the area largely deserted.

State television showed displaced residents receiving food and shelter in emergency camps, while locals reported electricity cuts in parts of Ksar El Kebir.

Evacuation orders were also issued for several locations in Larache province, including industrial zones and areas near the Loukous river, as a precaution against further flooding.

Authorities are particularly concerned about the Oued Makhazine dam near Ksar El Kebir, which is operating at 146% capacity, increasing pressure to release water downstream.

Rights groups have called on the government to declare affected areas “disaster-stricken” to allow residents to access insurance coverage for flood damage.

While destructive, the exceptional rainfall has effectively ended a seven-year drought, with national dam-filling rates climbing to nearly 62%, up from 27% a year earlier.

The New Arab plus agencies, Maghrebi.org