HIBAPRESS – W.M.A.
A number of citizens have chosen to temporarily leave their homes in the city of Ksar El Kebir in anticipation of the return of rising water levels in the Loukkos River due to the expected heavy rainfall starting tomorrow, Monday, which may lead to the inundation of a number of city neighborhoods with water.
In order to keep pace with this process, the local authorities are making every effort to assist all persons residing in areas exposed to the risk of flooding to move to safe places, whether inside or outside the city of Ksar El Kebir. In this context, more than 70 buses have been provided to transport citizens wishing to travel to neighboring cities while awaiting the passing of this exceptional climatic circumstance, which has cast a shadow over the pace of normal life in the city, especially with the inundation of several neighborhoods with water and the disruptions that the electricity and water distribution networks are experiencing. A number of citizens, in statements obtained by the Moroccan News Agency from the scene, explained that this initiative came at an appropriate time to meet an urgent need for many citizens, who have found safe havens with relatives or acquaintances in neighboring cities. They pointed out that this process will enable them to ensure a safe transition to safe areas, especially with the issuance of warning notices about the continuation of climatic disturbances during the coming week, and that travel to and from the city of Ksar El Kebir has been affected on a number of roads due to the rising water levels of the valleys. In this regard, the Ministry of Equipment and Water had announced last Saturday that traffic was temporarily cut off on National Road No. 1 linking Souk El Arbaa and Ksar El Kebir at the southern entrance to the city of Ksar El Kebir, and Regional Road No. 410 linking Larache and Ksar El Kebir (dual carriageway) at the western entrance to the city of Ksar El Kebir. The ministry explained that this interruption is the result of the rising water level of the Loukkos River, which led to the inundation of a part of the road surface. On another level, the municipality of Ksar El Kebir announced, also yesterday, that as part of the exceptional measures taken to address the situation in the city due to floods and rising water levels, the concerned authorities, in coordination with the National Office of Railways, ensured transportation by train towards safe cities, stressing that this measure comes "out of concern for the safety of the residents and to facilitate their movement in these exceptional circumstances." Indeed, a number of families have taken advantage of these exceptional measures to move to neighboring cities to ensure the safety of their members while waiting for the expected climatic changes next week, which may cause record water imports in the Loukkos River, which may lead to the inundation of several parts of Ksar El Kebir. The General Directorate of Meteorology had issued, today, Sunday, an updated warning notice, warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms starting at six o'clock in the morning on Monday until mid-day on Tuesday, with measurements ranging between 50 and 80 mm, in the provinces located within the water basin of the Loukkos River, especially Ouezzane, Chefchaouen and Larache, which indicates the return of the water level of the valley to rise again, knowing that the Wadi Al-Makhazen dam records a filling rate of 100 percent.
