AI SUMMARY – What You Need to Know
- Days of heavy rain have triggered widespread flooding in northern Morocco.
- Security forces are evacuating tens of thousands of residents from affected areas.
- Regions northeast of Rabat are hardest hit after the Sebou River overflowed.
- The floods come after a prolonged drought, worsening their impact.
RABAT — Moroccan authorities have begun evacuating tens of thousands of people after several days of heavy rainfall caused severe flooding across northern parts of Morocco. According to the state news agency MAP, more than 154,000 residents have been affected by the extreme weather.
The worst-hit areas lie northeast of the capital, Rabat, where the Sebou River burst its banks following sustained downpours. Flooded roads and damaged infrastructure have cut off access to several villages, complicating rescue and relief operations.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry said police, military units, and civil protection teams are working to evacuate residents from high-risk zones and provide emergency assistance. Authorities stressed that the measures are precautionary, as weather forecasts warn of additional rainfall in the coming days.
The floods follow a long period of drought that left the ground parched and unable to absorb large volumes of water. Similar flooding in December claimed at least 37 lives, highlighting the country’s growing vulnerability to extreme weather events.
Climate experts warn that such sudden and intense weather patterns are becoming more frequent in North Africa, posing increasing risks to communities, infrastructure, and food security.