Esther Imonmion
The Moroccan government has announced emergency relief measures after Tuesday torrential rains triggered flash floods across multiple provinces, killing several people and displacing dozens overnight.
Authorities confirmed that the worst-hit areas are Agouatim and Moulay Brahim in Al Haouz province, where overflowing valleys such as Ghghaya and Bahja unleashed walls of water on Tuesday night. In Akni village, homes were inundated and vehicles swept away, while traffic between Marrakech and Moulay Brahim ground to a halt.
Emergency services have been deployed with heavy equipment to reopen blocked roads and restore access to cut-off communities. Shops, homes, and farmland sustained major damage, and officials warned that the death toll could rise as search-and-rescue operations continue.
In the Imlil region, floodwaters carrying massive boulders and tree trunks tore through farmland, flattening crops and threatening food security. Entire sections of rural roads were washed away, complicating relief efforts.
The situation is equally dire in Drâa-Tafilalet, where several major roads remain cut off and vehicles stranded. Local authorities say rescue teams are working round the clock, with helicopters on standby to reach isolated villages.
Meteorologists have warned of more heavy rainfall in the coming days, urging communities in flood-prone valleys to remain on high alert. Residents say the speed and ferocity of the flooding was unprecedented.
“This is unlike anything we’ve experienced before,” said farmer Hassan El-Mokhtar, who lost his crops in Al Haouz. “The water came suddenly, with such force that no one could stop it.”
The government has pledged financial aid and logistical support to affected families while mobilizing national disaster management units to monitor vulnerable areas. Officials have appealed for public cooperation as the country braces for more rainfall.