More than 50,000 residents have been displaced across northern Morocco after days of intense rainfall and severe weather triggered widespread flooding in several provinces, according to the country’s interior ministry.
The evacuations began on Friday, with Larache province bearing the brunt of the disaster. Authorities said the city of Ksar El Kebir, located about 100 kilometres south of Tangier, experienced extensive flooding that submerged homes, roads and farmlands, forcing thousands to flee their residences.
Government officials confirmed that many of the displaced residents sought refuge with relatives in safer locations, while vulnerable individuals and families requiring urgent assistance were relocated to temporary shelters established by emergency agencies.
Morocco’s national meteorological service had earlier issued warnings of heavy rainfall, strong winds and snowfall in mountainous areas above 1,500 metres, with adverse weather conditions expected to persist from Monday through Wednesday across several provinces.
In response to the escalating crisis, the Moroccan army has been deployed to support rescue and relief operations, acting on the direct instructions of King Mohammed VI. Military units are assisting with evacuations, logistics and the delivery of emergency aid to affected communities.
The latest flooding underscores Morocco’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events. In December, sudden floods in the coastal city of Safi claimed 37 lives, marking the country’s deadliest weather-related disaster in more than a decade.
The severe conditions are part of a broader pattern of extreme weather across North Africa. In recent weeks, flooding in neighbouring Algeria claimed two lives, including that of a child. Tunisia has also been hit hard, recording at least five deaths and several missing persons after experiencing its heaviest rainfall in over 70 years last month.
Authorities across the region continue to urge residents in high-risk areas to remain vigilant as unpredictable weather patterns intensify.
