Morocco evacuates over 108,000 as floods engulf northern city

Thursday 05 February 2026 - 08:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Morocco evacuates over 108,000 as floods engulf northern city

Moroccan authorities have evacuated more than 108,000 residents from four northern provinces amid weeks of heavy rains and dam overflows that have turned vast swathes of the northwest plains into disaster zones. The historic city of Ksar el-Kebir, home to about 120,000 people, stands largely deserted, with 85 percent of its population forced to flee after the Oued Loukkos river burst its banks.

The Interior Ministry announced Wednesday that 108,423 individuals had been relocated in a phased operation across Larache, Sidi Kacem, Sidi Slimane, and Kenitra provinces. The bulk 81,709 evacuees came from Larache province, where Ksar el-Kebir bore the brunt of the flooding.

The crisis escalated when the Oued Makhazine dam near Ksar el-Kebir reached 146 percent capacity after prolonged downpours, prompting controlled water releases that worsened downstream flooding, according to the Water Ministry. Built in 1979 to manage irrigation and flood control, the dam has struggled under current inflows. "The city has become a ghost town," local resident Hicham Ajttou told Reuters. "All shops and markets are shuttered, and most residents have either left voluntarily or been compelled to evacuate."

Royal Armed Forces deployed Friday to aid rescues, deploying helicopters and military vehicles to reach those trapped by rising waters. State television aired footage of teams airlifting four people from floodwaters in the Oued Ouargha river in neighboring Ouezzane province.

The Gharb region in northwest Morocco, a key wheat-producing area, faces prolonged flood risks due to its flat terrain and poor drainage. Rainfall has surged 215 percent year-over-year and 54 percent above historical averages, per official data. Authorities set up emergency shelters and tent camps near Larache for thousands of displaced families. Power outages hit several neighborhoods, and schools remain closed at least until February 8.

No deaths have been reported from the floods so far, though roads linking Tangier, Tetouan, and affected provinces face disruptions. Rights groups urge the government to declare these zones disaster areas to enable insurance access for residents.

These exceptional rains have ended a seven-year drought in Morocco, boosting national dam fill rates from 27 percent a year ago to nearly 62 percent. Meteorologists warn of further downpours up to 150 millimeters in coming days as Storm Leonardo impacts the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa.