Flooding: Ministry of the Interior mobilizes all resources to protect threatened populations

In this regard, and in implementation of the High Instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist and glorify Him, the operation has been marked by a strong on-the-ground mobilization, with the deployment of units of the Royal Armed Forces, in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior and other stakeholders, to supervise evacuation and transport operations, ensure their smooth execution, and mobilize all necessary logistical means and human resources.

With a view to preserving citizens’ safety, the progressive evacuation of residents from several communes has been carried out, following a methodology that takes into account risk levels and the scale of potential damage, while providing transport means for those concerned. To date, and up to this morning, 108,423 people have been evacuated and relocated, broken down as follows:

• Larache Province: 81,709 people, notably in the city of Ksar El Kébir, where evacuated residents and those who left on their own account represent 85 percent of the city’s population.
• Sidi Kacem Province: 9,728 people.
• Sidi Slimane Province: 2,853 people.
• Kénitra Province: 14,133 people.

All the measures adopted have helped limit the repercussions of this exceptional situation and ensure the safety of all. In parallel, the competent services have continued to support affected populations through the establishment of accommodation camps and reception centers, as well as the provision of various forms of necessary assistance, in order to mitigate the effects of these difficult conditions and strengthen public safety guarantees.

At the current stage, and in anticipation of the impacts of the climatic disturbances forecast for the coming days, based on alert bulletins issued by the competent bodies, which indicate the possibility of recording rainfall reaching up to 150 mm over a short period in certain regions, with the exceptional and unprecedented water inflows that could result, particularly at the Oued El Makhazine dam, whose latest hydrological data indicate a record rise in its reservoir likely to exert significant pressure on its infrastructure, it has been decided to take new preventive and precautionary measures to ensure the protection of populations and the safety of infrastructure.

Accordingly, and in view of the increasing risk indicators and the possibility of a rapid and sudden aggravation of danger, the Ministry of the Interior issues an urgent call to all citizens residing in the following territorial communes of Larache Province: Ksar El Kébir, Souaken and Ouled Ouchih, as well as the Larache industrial zone and areas adjacent to the mouth of the Oued Loukkos, to strictly comply with public authorities’ evacuation instructions and adhere to all measures taken, in particular immediate evacuation, in order to preserve human lives.

In light of the technical data relating to the current hydrological situation in the Kingdom, all public authorities, government departments and concerned services will continue, in a spirit of general mobilization and permanent coordination, to implement all necessary measures to protect populations and ensure the safety of citizens and their property.

Finally, it is emphasized that the situation requires a strengthening of the level of mobilization and a consolidation of joint action between public authorities and local populations, who have demonstrated a high sense of responsibility and awareness of the demands of this situation, as well as a strong commitment to respecting the measures and procedures put in place.

Editorial team/le7tv