Rabat, Morocco – The Moroccan Ministry of the Interior announced that local authorities have evacuated more
than 143,000 people from the lowlands in the northwest of the kingdom as a large-scale
precautionary measure to address the risks of flooding and flash floods in Morocco.
This comes amid a wave of heavy rains and rising river levels, as well as the need
for authorities to release additional water from dams that have reached high filling levels in Morocco.
The ministry stated that the evacuations included several at-risk regions, particularly those adjacent to major rivers and valleys,
most notably the Loukkos River basin, where some areas have experienced alarmingly high water levels in recent days.
Minimize potential losses
It explained that this step is part of a proactive plan aimed at protecting lives
and minimizing potential losses, given the continued weather fluctuations and unstable climatic conditions in Morocco.
According to Moroccan authorities, the evacuated residents were transferred
to pre-prepared temporary shelters and provided with basic necessities,
including food and healthcare, through coordination between the Ministry of the Interior,
local authorities, the Royal Armed Forces, and the Civil Protection services.
Additional logistical and human resources were also mobilized to monitor the situation on the ground around the clock in Morocco.
Ensuring the safety of facilities
The Ministry of the Interior indicated that recent rainfall had caused a rise in the water levels of several rivers and dams,
necessitating the opening of some dam gates to relieve pressure and ensure the safety of the structures.
This, in turn, increased the likelihood of flooding in the surrounding low-lying areas.
Moroccan authorities confirmed that the state of alert will remain elevated in the coming days,
with continued monitoring of weather forecasts and warnings issued by the meteorological services.
They urged citizens in at-risk areas to adhere to safety instructions and cooperate with rescue teams.
They also emphasized that the measures taken are primarily aimed at preventing potential catastrophic scenarios,
given the increasing intensity of extreme weather events affecting the region of Morocco.
