Over 150,000 Evacuated as Floods Ravage Northern Morocco

Heavy rains and flooding in northern Morocco have forced over 150,000 people to evacuate, killed at least four, and left one missing. Thousands are sheltering in tent camps, while authorities provide food, medical care, and support for livestock as residents await the return to their homes.

Heavy rains and severe flooding in northern Morocco have forced tens of thousands of people to flee their homes, leaving communities across the region grappling with widespread destruction and disruption. In the village of Ouled Ameur, 67-year-old Kasia El Selami learned through the loudspeakers of her local mosque that it was time to evacuate as floodwaters rose rapidly. Selami, along with her children and neighbors, joined more than 150,000 people who have been evacuated over the past week as authorities worked to move residents to safety. The floods have already claimed four lives, including that of a two-year-old child, while one person remains missing, according to Moroccan officials.
In many affected areas, residents, particularly children and elderly people, were stranded on rooftops and had to be rescued by small boats. Helicopters were also used in some regions where floodwaters had inundated roads and farmland, making ground access impossible. The scale of the evacuations highlights the severity of the flooding, which has disrupted daily life and left many residents anxious about returning to their homes.
Near the city of Kenitra, approximately 50 kilometers north of Rabat, authorities established a large tent camp to shelter nearly 40,000 evacuees, including families like Selami’s. At the camp, residents are making do with minimal resources. Some have improvised daily chores, such as washing laundry near enclosures where evacuated livestock, including cows, horses, chickens, and sheep, are being kept. Mobile clinics provide medical care to those who are sick or lightly injured, while civil defense teams distribute mattresses, warm clothing, and food. Veterinary care is also being offered to protect livestock, which is a vital resource for many families in the region, according to official Adil Al-Khatabi.
Many evacuees described the conditions as extremely difficult. Ali Al Aouni, a 60-year-old resident, said that the floods had reached about 1.5 meters in his village, leaving families fearful about returning home if the waters rise again. He also mentioned that his eldest son stayed behind to monitor their property, updating the family by phone as water levels continued to rise. Selami, like many others, is hoping for a swift end to the flooding so she can return home and resume normal life.
This latest disaster comes after Morocco experienced deadly floods in December, when 37 people were killed in Safi, marking the country’s deadliest weather-related disaster in the past decade. In recent weeks, severe weather has also affected neighboring countries, including Algeria, where floods killed two people, and Tunisia, where at least five people died amid record rainfall. Further north, Portugal and Spain have endured storms and torrential rains in recent days, indicating a broader pattern of extreme weather events affecting the region.
Authorities continue to coordinate relief efforts, providing food, shelter, medical care, and support for affected families and their livestock. Despite these efforts, the situation remains challenging, as residents navigate the emotional and physical toll of displacement, loss of property, and the ongoing uncertainty about the return to their homes. Emergency teams are working to monitor water levels, maintain safety in flood-affected areas, and ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches the most vulnerable populations. The disaster underscores the vulnerability of communities in northern Morocco to extreme weather events and highlights the need for ongoing preparedness, rapid response measures, and support for those impacted by such natural disasters.