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Rabat — As summer settles over Morocco, the season brings with it more than heat and holiday crowds.
It also brings a tragic toll on the country’s beaches and waterways. Between May 1 and July 15, the Directorate General of Civil Protection (DGPC) reported 14,040 drowning or near-drowning incidents across Morocco.
Most of these incidents ended without fatal consequences thanks to the swift action of lifeguards and rescue teams.
Out of the 14,040 cases, 13,970 people were rescued in time. Yet, the statistics present the grim reality of 49 deaths and that 21 people remain missing.
A clear divide emerges between monitored and unmonitored zones. Beaches under official surveillance recorded 16 deaths and three missing persons, while unsupervised areas saw more than double that number, with 33 deaths and 18 missing.
Where trained lifeguards patrol and safety equipment is available, the risk of death drops sharply. In contrast, remote or “wild” beaches, often chosen by families or young people seeking solitude, turn into dangerous traps.
Experts point to multiple factors behind this recurring summer tragedy. Impulsiveness and overconfidence push many young swimmers into dangerous waters or forbidden areas.
Safety measures remain insufficient in some locations, leaving swimmers without guidance or clear warnings. Awareness of basic precautions remains low, and families with limited resources often turn to unsupervised areas, further increasing risk.
Civil Protection and local authorities continue to deploy thousands of personnel and volunteers to the most crowded beaches. They work alongside the Royal Gendarmerie, National Police, and occasionally the Royal Navy during search operations.
Municipalities invest in clear signage and first aid equipment, yet the sheer scale of summer crowds, sometimes tens of thousands per day on a single beach, often overwhelms available resources.
Long-term strategies are necessary to curb this persistent danger. Education campaigns in schools and through the media aim to teach essential safety rules from a young age.
Expanding monitored zones with more qualified lifeguards, enforcing stricter control of prohibited areas, training the public in first aid, and equipping beaches with modern rescue technologies such as drones and connected buoys can all help prevent further tragedies.
