Preventive evacuations ordered in Sidi Kacem amid rising sebour river levels
Authorities in Morocco’s Sidi Kacem province have launched a series of emergency measures in response to the alarming rise in water levels of the Sebou River, combining preventive evacuations, road safety actions and protection of residents and property.
Local authorities have intensified evacuation operations in areas exposed to flooding risks, aiming to safeguard lives and minimize material losses. These efforts are being carried out alongside continuous monitoring of the river’s flow and the surrounding low-lying zones.
The Provincial Directorate of Equipment and Water has deployed emergency teams on the ground to anticipate the impact of the rising waters, particularly on road safety. According to Younes El Meskini, regional director for the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra area, warning signs have been installed at all flooded or closed road sections to alert motorists and prevent accidents.
Several major roads have been temporarily closed, including National Road 418 between Dar Gueddari and Sidi Allal Tazi, and parts of National Road 27 linking Sidi Kacem to Souk El Arbaa du Gharb via Mechraâ Bel Ksiri. Work is ongoing to restore traffic as soon as conditions allow.
Preventive evacuations have affected several rural communities in the communes of Al Haouafates, Sidi El Kamel and Rmilate. In the douar of Dakhla alone, 69 residents were evacuated, with some accommodated in a local student residence and others hosted by relatives in safer areas. Similar measures were taken in neighboring communes, bringing dozens of residents to designated shelters.
Special attention has also been given to protecting livestock, with more than 1,100 sheep and 200 cattle transferred to secure zones to preserve local livelihoods.
The situation has been exacerbated by heavy rainfall across the Sebou basin, leading to a sharp rise in water reserves at the Al Wahda dam. Authorities have initiated controlled and gradual water releases to reduce pressure on the structure, while warning that these operations could increase flood risks downstream.
Emergency services remain on high alert, urging residents living near the river to exercise maximum caution as monitoring continues.
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