Khaberni - The city of El-Qsar El-Kebir in northern Morocco has experienced floods that submerged residential areas following the rise in the water level of the Loukkos River.
Videos circulating on social media platforms showed the flooding of many streets, disruption of traffic, and residential buildings damaged by water immersion.
The regional director at the Ministry of Equipment and Water in the Larache region, Azeddin Ait Taleb, said that efforts are ongoing in the city of El-Qsar El-Kebir to protect residential neighborhoods threatened by floods.
He added to the official Moroccan news agency that work is underway to construct temporary protective barriers to prevent the waters of the Loukkos River from reaching the flood-threatened neighborhoods, as a preventive measure to protect lives and properties.
He noted that the vigilance and monitoring committee, headed by the governor of the Larache region, has been in the city since last Tuesday to closely monitor the situation, following a warning bulletin issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology.
The Moroccan news agency also reported that the Ministry of Transport and Logistics announced the temporary closure of the Tetouan-Sania Ramel Airport, starting Thursday, following a precise assessment of the current situation of the airport after the heavy rains that hit the area in recent hours.
The regional authorities in Larache announced the elevation to maximum alert status in the city, following the rise in the level of Loukkos Valley due to heavy rainfall in the northwestern region of the kingdom.
After a drought period that lasted for 7 years, Morocco has been experiencing unprecedented rainfall since November, refilling most of the dams, as well as rivers and water basins across the country.
This rainfall has increased the dam fill rate to about 55.2% as of January 28, compared to 27.6% during the same period last year, an increase of nearly 27%.
Morocco is also experiencing significant snowfall, which has replenished the groundwater and compensated for the deficit over the seven years of drought.
The Moroccan army announced on Wednesday that it had retrieved 3 bodies following an avalanche on Mount Toubkal, the highest peak in the kingdom.