RABAT — Moroccan authorities have evacuated 108,432 people from flood-prone areas in the country’s northwest after days of heavy rain pushed rivers higher and increased pressure on already full dams, according to the Interior Ministry.
The largest movement has been around Ksar El Kebir in the Gharb plains, where the Loukous River rose sharply and authorities warned residents to leave immediately. Emergency teams have deployed helicopters, while army units have assisted evacuations since a red weather alert was issued.
Officials said the risk has been amplified by a combination of continued rainfall, swollen waterways, and controlled releases from dams operating above normal capacity thresholds in affected zones. In some locations, electricity has been cut as a safety measure and temporary shelters opened for displaced families.
Meteorological data cited by officials show rainfall this season is 215% higher than last year and 54% above historical averages. While the rains have eased long-running drought conditions and improved reservoir levels nationwide, they have sharply increased short-term flooding risks in low-lying agricultural terrain with poor natural drainage.
Civil society groups are now calling for formal disaster-zone declarations in the hardest-hit districts to speed relief and insurance support for affected residents.
