US EditionMorocco evacuates 50,000 as flooding threatens city after weeks of heavy rain
Flooding in Ksar el-Kebir followed release from a full dam after heavy rain, forcing evacuations of nearly half the city's population, with markets closed and schools suspended.
- On Monday, authorities evacuated more than 50,000 people from Ksar el-Kebir as flooding from weeks of heavy rain threatened the city, and local resident Hicham Ajttou told Reuters, `The city has become a ghost town.`
- Officials said the floods followed water released from the full Oued Makhazine dam, with the national dam-filling rate close to 62% after Morocco's recent seven-year drought ended.
- Authorities established shelters and barred entry into Ksar el-Kebir as the Moroccan army deployed rescue units, trucks, medics, and buses while State TV Al Oula showed a helicopter rescuing four people in Oued Ouargha.
- Markets and shops are closed and most residents have either left voluntarily or been evacuated; only departures from Ksar el-Kebir were permitted while schools remain closed until Saturday.
- Further south, rising Sebou River levels forced evacuations in Sidi Kacem, while volunteer Hicham Ajttou, who moved his family to Tangier last week, called Ksar el-Kebir `The city has become a ghost town`.
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The people were partly resettled to relatives, and those in need of care were housed in temporary camps, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Interior. These operations took place mainly in the province of Larache, less than 100 kilometres south of Tangier.
Morocco evacuates 50,000 as flooding threatens city
Morocco has evacuated more than 50,000 people, nearly half the population of the northwestern city of Ksar el-Kebir, as flooding driven by weeks of heavy rain threatened to inundate the city, state media said on Monday. "The city has become a ghost town," local resident Hicham Ajttou told Reuters by phone. "All markets and shops are closed and most residents have either left voluntarily or been evacuated." Authorities set up shelters and tempora…
Morocco evacuates 50,000 as flooding threatens city after weeks of heavy rain
By Ahmed Eljechtimi RABAT, Feb 2 (Reuters) – Morocco has evacuated more than 50,000 people, nearly half the population of the northwestern city of Ksar el-Kebir, as flooding driven by weeks of heavy rain threatened to inundate the city, state media said on Monday. “The city has become a ghost town,” local resident Hicham Ajttou told Reuters by phone. “All markets and shops are closed and most residents have either left voluntarily or been evacu…
Video. Severe floods in northern Morocco displace over 50,000 people
Parts of northern Morocco, especially the Tanger-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region, are grappling with severe flooding after sustained rainfall topping 600 mm since September 2025, reversing years of drought. Authorities say more than 50,000 people have been displaced across the north, nearly half of Ksar El Kebir’s population. Access to the city is limited to outbound traffic, power cuts have hit several neighbourhoods and schools remain closed. The si…
Due to rising water levels in the Lukus River in northern Morocco caused by rainfall, it has been decided to evacuate all residents of the city of Qasr al-Kabir to safe areas.
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