Morocco evacuates more than 50,000 residents of Ksar el-Kebir as floods threaten the city after weeks of heavy rain. State media reported on Monday, noting that the population in the northwestern city was heavily affected by rising waters from the Loukkos River.<\/p>\n
Localized markets and shops were closed as authorities evacuated residents or placed them in shelters and temporary camps. Entry into Ksar el-Kebir was restricted, with departures allowed, and power cuts were reported in parts of the city. Schools were ordered to stay closed through Saturday.<\/p>\n
Officials said the floods were partly triggered by water released from the nearby Oued Makhazine dam, which had reached full capacity. Ksar el-Kebir lies about 190 km north of Rabat. Local resident Hicham Ajttou described the city as a \u201cghost town\u201d while volunteering in relief efforts.<\/p>\n
The army deployed rescue units, transport, equipment and medics to support evacuation and rescue operations, with buses used to move people out of the city. A helicopter was shown by state TV airlifting four people trapped by rising water in Oued Ouargha, in the adjacent province of Ouezzane.<\/p>\n
To the south, rising levels of the Sebou River prompted evacuations in Sidi Kacem, with authorities reinforcing riverbanks using sandbags and barriers. The heavy rainfall ends a seven-year drought, prompting extensive investments in desalination plants.<\/p>\n
Official data indicate the national dam-filling rate is now near 62%, and several major reservoirs have reached full capacity, reflecting the broader hydrological impacts of the current weather pattern.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"