Floods Force School Closure in Ksar El Kebir Amid Severe Weather Crisis

Ksar El Kebir floods put students and schools’ staff at risk, forcing authorities to take emergency measures, including the temporary closure of schools.

Agadir – Moroccan authorities have ordered the temporary suspension of classes in Ksar El Kebir after severe weather triggered widespread flooding and disrupted access to educational institutions across the city.

The Provincial Directorate of National Education, Preschool Education and Sports in Larache announced that all public and private schools, including preschool units, will remain closed from February 2-7.

The measure comes following recommendations from the provincial crisis monitoring committee, in coordination with local authorities and the Regional Academy of Education and Training (AREF) of Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima.

Officials stated that the decision is aimed at protecting students, teachers, and administrative staff, as exceptional weather conditions and flooding have created risks, threatening the safety of going to and from schools.

Thousands of students impacted

The situation in Ksar El Kebir follows days of intense rainfall that caused the Loukkos river to rise, flooding several neighborhoods and overwhelming local infrastructure. In some areas, many school buildings were affected, while in others, flooded streets made access impossible.

The closure affects approximately 69 educational institutions, including 27 preschool units, and impacts around 35,000 students, among them thousands of primary-level and preschool children.

Local education authorities have introduced temporary remote learning solutions. They also plan to organize support sessions to catch up for lost classroom time once conditions allow normal operations to resume.

Universities have adopted similar measures. The Faculty of Multidisciplinary Studies in Larache and its Ksar El Kebir branches announced a temporary suspension of classes for the same period, with a provisional return scheduled for early February if conditions stabilize.

Authorities emphasized that the suspension is temporary and will be reassessed depending on weather developments and water levels. Schools are expected to reopen once safe access routes and normal conditions are restored.