Heavy overnight flooding hit Ksar El Kébir after the Loukkos River overflowed, following days of intense rainfall in northern Morocco. Water levels rose rapidly flooding streets, entering homes, and prompting authorities to place the city under a maximum flood alert.
According to local authorities, several low-lying neighborhoods near the Loukkos River were affected as water levels surged, in some areas reaching close to one meter.
Streets were submerged, traffic was disrupted, and residents spent the night monitoring the rising water as emergency teams were deployed across the city.
One of the most significant impacts was reported at the Proximity Hospital of Ksar El Kébir, located near the northern entrance of the city. Floodwaters reached parts of the facility, leading authorities to evacuate patients and staff as a precautionary measure.
Hospital services were temporarily suspended to protect medical equipment and ensure safety.
The flooding caused material damage in several parts of the city. Homes located near the river were inundated, household items were damaged, and multiple roads connecting Ksar El Kébir to nearby towns were partially flooded, slowing traffic and limiting access.
As of Friday morning, no official casualties or deaths have been reported. Authorities said monitoring operations remain in place and emergency teams are on standby in case water levels rise again.
Local authorities activated emergency flood-prevention measures. These included the installation of temporary sand barriers along vulnerable sections of the Loukkos River, the deployment of high-capacity pumps to drain flooded areas, and continuous field inspections led by local officials, security forces, and civil protection teams.
On the ground, inspection tours were carried out along the Loukkos wadi, focusing on sensitive and low-lying points where flooding is most likely. These visits helped officials assess the situation in real time and anticipate possible pressure points as water continued to flow downstream.
To ensure a coordinated response, all key services were placed on maximum alert, including local authorities, security forces, the Loukkos River Basin Agency, the Regional Multiservices Company, the Provincial Directorate of Equipment and Water, and the municipality of Ksar El Kébir.
The operation has been overseen by a monitoring and follow-up committee chaired by Larache Governor which has been present in the city since Tuesday. The committee has been closely tracking developments and adjusting measures based on field reports.
To keep the situation under control, planned water releases are being carried out to lower the reservoir level of the Oued El Makhazine dam and free up storage space as a safety buffer after the dam has reached full capacity,
These measures come after heavy rainfall in Larache province, where accumulated rainfall has exceeded 600 millimetres since September leading to a 100% filling rate of the dam, according to Mohamed Abdellah Ezzaouini, director of the Loukkos River Basin Agency.
Officials say the controlled releases are a precautionary step to reduce pressure on the dam and limit flood risks downstream, especially if further rainfall hits the area in the coming days.
According to Hespress sources, Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit will meet Friday with government officials to review Ksar El Kébir’s flooding caused by heavy rain and dam releases. The meeting may include evacuations in neighborhoods where water has reached about one meter in homes.
As of Friday morning, water levels in the Loukkos River were reported to be under close control, though authorities warned that continued rainfall could still pose risks. Emergency services remain deployed in sensitive areas, focusing on drainage operations and protecting residential neighborhoods.
Dramatic videos have circulated on social media showing far worse scenes of the flooding, but officials have said those fake AI-generated clips do not reflect what’s really happening on the ground. Some of these AI-generated videos were taken from unrelated events.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.