Ouled Ameur, Morocco – Tens of thousands of people have been forced from their homes in northern Morocco after heavy rains triggered devastating floods across several provinces.
Among those displaced is Kasia El Selami, who fled her village after hearing urgent warnings broadcast through mosque loudspeakers. She is now living in a tent with her children, one of more than 150,000 evacuees over the past week.
“We felt immense fear… especially for our children,” said the 67-year-old, hanging a blanket outside her temporary shelter.
Human Toll
Authorities confirmed that the floods have killed four people, including a two-year-old child, while one person remains missing. Rescue operations have seen residents stranded on rooftops, with some evacuated by small boats and helicopters as floodwaters inundated roads and farmland.
Near Kenitra, about 50 kilometres north of Rabat, officials have established a vast camp of blue tents sheltering nearly 40,000 people. Families are making do with limited resources, washing clothes in basins and caring for livestock penned nearby. Mobile clinics provide medical care, while civil defence distributes mattresses, warm clothing, and food.
Voices from the Camps
For many, the ordeal has been traumatic. Ali Al Aouni, 60, described the experience as “very difficult days,” noting that his children remain terrified.
“The water level got about a metre and a half high in our village. We’re afraid to go home if the flood comes back,” he said.
Regional Context
Morocco has faced deadly floods before. In December 2025, sudden flooding in Safi killed 37 people, the country’s worst weather-related disaster in a decade.
The crisis comes amid severe weather across North Africa and southern Europe:
- In Algeria, floods recently killed two people, including a child.
- In Tunisia, at least five people died after the heaviest rainfall in over 70 years.
- Portugal and Spain have also endured storms and torrential rains in recent days.
Conclusion
As Morocco grapples with the aftermath of the floods, displaced families like Selami’s wait anxiously for conditions to improve so they can return home. The disaster underscores the growing vulnerability of communities across North Africa to extreme weather events, highlighting the urgent need for resilience and preparedness.
