As the Kingdom burns under stormy skies, around fifteen Moroccan provinces are currently on red and orange alert by Maroc Météo, plunging a large part of the country into a quasi-apocalyptic scenario.
The stormy rains that have been falling relentlessly on the South-Eastern regions have caused considerable damage. Ouarzazate, Tinghir, Boumalne-Dadès and their surroundings are submerged under flash floods and rainfall of rare intensity. The inhabitants, taken by surprise by the violence of the storm and its bad weather, are fighting against the intrusion of water into their homes, their businesses, and especially in their daily lives.
Torrential rains with devastating consequences
The downpours, mixed with hail and accompanied by furious gusts of wind, have been hitting several cities in the South-East since Friday. Ouarzazate has been paralyzed by significant flooding. Torrents of water have flooded the city’s streets, disrupting traffic and making some areas almost inaccessible.
The wadis, these rivers dry most of the year, have transformed into real raging rivers, carrying with them everything that was in their path. In Tinghir and Boumalne-Dadès, the situation is just as disastrous. Entire neighborhoods have been engulfed under muddy waters, forcing several residents to evacuate their homes in an emergency.
Local infrastructure, already weakened by the recent bad weather, has not withstood the shock. Roads cut, houses flooded, businesses ravaged… The images of these devastated towns are cause for concern.
Daily life turned upside down
These bad weather events have also disrupted the daily lives of the inhabitants. Water, this resource so precious for these arid regions, has become in the space of a few hours a mortal threat.
Homes, often built with flimsy materials, have collapsed under the pressure of the torrents. For the luckiest, it took just a few hours to evacuate and seek refuge. For others, the drama continues, with irrecoverable property and destroyed homes.
Local authorities, in collaboration with civil protection services, are working hard to limit the damage and provide assistance to those affected. Rescue teams are being deployed to the worst-hit areas, while evacuation plans are being put in place.
Authorities on alert, call for caution
Faced with this critical situation, local authorities continue to remind us of the importance of vigilance. Maroc Météo has warned that these bad weather conditions are not over yet, and that thunderstorms accompanied by hail and strong gusts of wind are expected until Sunday. The call for caution has been launched.
Authorities are stepping up efforts to reassure people and respond to emergencies. In some cities, water pumping operations are underway, while temporary shelters have been set up for families who have had to flee their homes. However, the damage is so severe that it will take a long time before life returns to normal.
Weatherproof infrastructure
These floods once again raise the question of the resilience of Moroccan infrastructure in the face of climatic hazards. While some cities have relatively efficient water evacuation systems, the same is not true for the more remote regions of the South-East.
Here, floods are not only a consequence of the weather, but also of chronic underpreparation for extreme events. The wadis, which are an integral part of the landscape, are not always equipped to contain such quantities of water. The roads, for their part, quickly disintegrate under the pressure of the floods.
It is time for Morocco to better prepare its vulnerable regions for the consequences of climate change. Because while rains are a blessing for dams and agriculture, they become a scourge when they flow unchecked. While water is essential to the survival of crops and ecosystems, when mismanaged, it can become a destructive force.
While the country regularly suffers from prolonged droughts, these torrential rains and floods show that the Kingdom is not immune to extremes. Climate change is no longer an abstraction, it is manifesting itself here and now, and with direct consequences on the lives of citizens.
Resilience of a people in the face of bad weather
Building flood-resistant infrastructure and establishing effective warning and evacuation systems are no longer luxuries, but necessities. Despite the gravity of the situation, the solidarity of Moroccans in the face of severe weather is palpable.
In affected cities, residents are organizing to help their neighbors, while local authorities are scrambling to cope with the emergency. This is not the first time the country has faced extreme weather, and it likely won’t be the last. But each episode is a reminder of how the resilience of the Moroccan people is a force in its own right.
