HIBAPRESS – A. Mahyawi
A number of users of National Road 08, which connects Fez and Taounate, have experienced moments of anticipation and anxiety since Wednesday morning, after finding themselves stranded as a result of the rising water level of a wadi due to the heavy rainfall witnessed in the region on the national road, which is undergoing reconstruction.
According to consistent data from the scene, the heavy rains that fell continuously in recent hours led to the flow of the wadi's water towards the road surface, which caused a significant disruption to traffic, and the stopping of a number of vehicles, especially light cars, for fear of risking crossing through the water. Witnesses said that the road witnessed a gathering of a number of vehicles in both directions, with difficulty in movement and sometimes reduced visibility due to the intensity of the rainfall, at a time when a number of drivers were forced to wait for hours to avoid any potential accident. A number of citizens also launched appeals for the intervention of the competent authorities to secure the road axis and organize traffic, especially in light of the fear of a further increase in the water level or the erosion of the soil on the sides of the road. Concerns about accidents amid bad weather conditions. This situation coincides with a warning bulletin regarding weather disturbances in a number of areas in the Fez-Meknes region, where some road axes are experiencing the risks of flash floods and landslides due to soil saturation with water, which increases the possibility of traffic accidents or temporary interruption of some routes. Pending the return to normal, local actors have called on road users to: Avoid unnecessary travel during these weather conditions, Not to risk crossing waterways, Respect the instructions of the authorities and elements of the Royal Gendarmerie and Civil Defense when they intervene, Reduce speed and activate warning lights. Eyes remain on the intervention of the competent authorities in order to re-secure traffic on National Road 08, and to avoid any developments that may threaten the safety of citizens.
