Morocco issues urgent appeal to evacuate the city of Ksar El Kebir due to the risk of flooding in the Loukkos Valley.

Rabat, Morocco – The city of Ksar El Kebir in northern Morocco has entered a state of high alert as the risk of flooding from the Loukkos River intensifies, with water levels rising sharply and unprecedentedly. This has prompted local authorities to issue an urgent appeal to residents, particularly those living in low-lying areas, to evacuate immediately and adhere to safety instructions.

Authorities warned that the city is facing a race against time to avert a potential humanitarian disaster. This comes after field reports indicated the possibility of floodwaters inundating large residential areas. In this context, Mohamed Simou, head of the Ksar El Kebir municipal council, urged residents able to relocate to mountainous areas or other cities to leave without delay. He emphasized that the danger is now imminent.

Simou explained that the situation has worsened due to a confluence of factors. The most significant is the dramatic rise in water levels caused by the release of massive quantities of water from the Oued El Makhazine Dam after it reached its maximum capacity of 100%. Additionally, the phenomenon of seawater backflow has halted the river’s flow and pushed water towards the heart of the city. The local official stressed that specific neighborhoods are at high risk, including Al-Tajjar Al-Sidrawi, Al-Mahdi Al-Rifi, Souk Al-Hayk, and Souk Al-Attarin. He urged residents to evacuate their homes immediately. Official estimates indicate that approximately six thousand families are affected by the precautionary measures. These families are being asked to seek temporary shelter in safe areas, even if it means urgently renting accommodation.

The crisis has once again highlighted the fragility of the infrastructure in Ksar El-Kebir, particularly the stormwater drainage network, which appeared unable to cope with the volume of water flowing in. This occurred despite prior warnings issued by the meteorological services. It has also sparked criticism and questions about the readiness of intervention plans and the capacity of existing infrastructure to deal with extreme weather events. This comes at a time when the risks associated with climate change are increasing in several regions of Morocco.