By Micah Jonah
February 18, 2026
Authorities in Morocco have begun allowing residents to return to flood-hit areas in the northwest, including the city of Ksar El Kebir, after severe winter rains forced the evacuation of 188,000 people earlier this month. The floods affected 110,000 hectares, with the Loukkos River overflowing due to exceptional rainfall.
The Royal Armed Forces and civil authorities coordinated the evacuations, providing free transport for those displaced to shelters, camps, or relatives’ homes. Most residents are now permitted to return, except for neighborhoods still at risk.
Morocco plans to invest 3 billion dirhams ($330 million) to repair infrastructure, support affected farmers, and assist shop-owners in the hardest-hit municipalities, which were officially declared disaster zones. The Oued Makhazine dam, which reached 160% capacity, had to release water downstream, worsening flooding in Ksar El Kebir and surrounding plains.
Meteorological data show that rainfall this winter was 35% above average since the 1990s, three times higher than last year. National dam-filling rates also rose sharply, prompting authorities to partially empty several large dams to accommodate new inflows. The heavy rains effectively ended a seven-year drought, which had previously accelerated investment in desalination projects.
Authorities continue to monitor river levels and infrastructure as residents return home, ensuring safety amid the ongoing recovery.
