Floods: Authorities Continue to Evacuate Ksar El Kebir as Oued El Makhazine Dam Exceeds 140% Capacity

Since last Friday, over 55,000 people have been relocated, mostly in the province of Larache, as severe weather continues to plague the region.

Agadir – The city of Ksar El Kebir is facing a flooding threat as heavy rains push the Oued El Makhazine dam to 141% of its capacity. Authorities have begun the evacuation of residents to avoid a potential disaster. Since Friday, over 55,000 people have been relocated, mostly in the province of Larache.

Yassine Wahbi, Head of Assessment and Water Resources Planning at the Loukkos Basin Agency noted that rains have led to substantial inflows across all reservoirs managed by the Loukkos Basin Agency.

The evacuation began late Tuesday night as a precautionary step. Authorities emphasized that the operation is planned and organized, and residents are being evacuated in stages. Patrols from the General Directorate of National Security, Auxiliary Forces, and Civil Protection are assisting those who need help leaving high-risk areas.

The crisis centers on the Oued El Makhazine dam, which controls the Loukkos River that runs through Ksar El Kebir. For the first time, the dam’s water level has exceeded 141% of capacity, sending the riverbanks above the danger mark.

Officials conducted tests on the dam’s structure to evaluate risks, and some valves obstructed by years of drought have been cleared to allow for controlled water releases.

The Moroccan authorities evacuated residents from all threatened areas following new weather alerts forecasting exceptional rainfall overnight, which could further raise water levels and increase pressure on the region’s infrastructure.

The evacuation operations are taking place in stages, starting on Monday when a part of the population left the city. On Tuesday, a camp for people affected by the floods was also evacuated before measures accelerated in zones with higher flooding risk.

Rainfall felt at heavy rates of up to 300 millimeters in some places, equivalent to six months of rain concentrated in a few days. For Wednesday alone, provinces such as Chefchaouen and Tetouan, under red alert, could see between 100 and 150 millimeters of precipitation, often stormy, increasing the risk of sudden floods.