Morocco Deploys Army to Evacuate Thousands After Floods

Moroccan authorities have deployed military rescue units to assist in evacuating thousands of residents after heavy rains and rising river levels caused widespread flooding across the country’s northwest, state television reported Saturday.

The Flood Monitoring Committee said continuous downpours over recent weeks, combined with water releases from an almost full dam, led to swelling in the Loukkos River, submerging several districts in the city of Ksar El Kebir, about 190 kilometres north of the capital, Rabat.

Officials reported that more than 20,000 people have been relocated to temporary shelters and emergency camps. Sandbags and temporary barriers have been installed in high-risk areas. As a precaution, schools in Ksar El Kebir have been closed until February 7.

In the neighbouring Sidi Kacem province, authorities evacuated several villages along the Sebou River and raised alert levels.

The heavy rainfall follows a seven-year drought that prompted Morocco to invest heavily in desalination plants. Official data indicate that dam levels have risen to an average of 60%, with several major reservoirs now at full capacity.

Last month, flash floods claimed 37 lives in the coastal city of Safi, south of Rabat, highlighting the country’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather.