Morocco Begins Returning Residents to Flood-Hit Northwestern Areas as Weather Improves

Moroccan authorities have started allowing residents to return to Ksar El Kebir and other flood-affected areas in the northwest after evacuating 188,000 people due to overflowing rivers. The government plans to invest $330 million in infrastructure and support for affected residents, farmers, and shop owners. Exceptional rainfall, 35?ove the historical average, caused dams to overflow, ending a seven-year drought but triggering widespread flooding.

Moroccan authorities have begun coordinating the gradual return of residents to the city of Ksar El Kebir and other areas in the country’s northwestern region that were severely affected by flooding, as weather conditions have started to improve, according to state media reports on Monday. Since early February, authorities, with support from the Moroccan army, have successfully evacuated approximately 188,000 people to protect them from rising river waters that inundated around 110,000 hectares across the northwest.
Most residents of Ksar El Kebir, situated about 213 kilometers north of Rabat, have now been allowed to return to their homes, although a few neighbourhoods remain off-limits due to ongoing safety concerns, the interior ministry said on Monday. To assist those returning, authorities arranged free train and bus services for residents who had temporarily sought shelter with relatives in other cities or in designated emergency centres and camps. State television reported that these transport measures aimed to ensure the safe and orderly return of displaced residents.
In parallel with these relief efforts, Morocco has announced plans to invest 3 billion dirhams, equivalent to around $330 million, in upgrading infrastructure and providing support to flood-affected residents, farmers, and shop owners in the inundated areas. The prime minister’s office confirmed last week that the municipalities hardest hit by the flooding have been officially declared disaster areas, allowing for targeted aid and reconstruction initiatives.
The flooding in the region was intensified by the Oued Makhazine dam, which had reached 160% of its capacity and was forced to gradually release water downstream after exceptional inflows. This resulted in a rapid rise in water levels in the Loukous River, which overflowed and inundated Ksar El Kebir and the surrounding plains. Official data indicate that rainfall this winter was 35% above the historical average recorded since the 1990s and three times higher than the previous year, contributing to widespread flooding and infrastructure challenges.
Morocco’s national dam-filling rate has risen sharply to nearly 70% from 27% a year earlier, with several large dams partially emptied to manage new inflows and prevent further damage. The extraordinary rainfall, while causing severe flooding, has also effectively ended a seven-year drought that had previously forced the country to increase investments in desalination projects and other water conservation measures. Authorities are now focused not only on the safe return of displaced residents but also on long-term infrastructure upgrades to mitigate the effects of future extreme weather events and protect vulnerable communities.