Morocco Launches New Flood Defense Study Following Deadly Safi Floods
Following the recent floods in Safi, Morocco‘s Ministry of Equipment and Water has launched a new technical study to design an upgraded flood protection system for the coastal city.
Minister of Equipment and Water Nizar Baraka said the ministry is also revising flood-risk maps to better anticipate extreme weather events and adapt to changing climate patterns.
The floods in Safi were caused by intense rainfall over a very short period, with large volumes of water concentrating mainly in the city center.
Investigating the Cause of the Floods
Baraka explained that the floods in Safi were caused by intense rainfall over a very short period, with large volumes of water concentrating mainly in the city center.
This situation reduced the effectiveness of the flood control dam located about nine kilometers from the city, he noted.
The dam received only around 200,000 cubic meters of water, despite having a total capacity of 3.5 million cubic meters.
Preventive Measures
On the preventive front, the minister said he visited Safi with the Director General of Water Engineering to assess the situation on the ground.
During the visit, authorities initiated a study for an additional flood protection system to prevent a recurrence of what he described as a tragedy for the city.
The ongoing technical study focuses mainly on widening the outlet to allow Oued Chaaba to discharge directly into the sea, a measure intended to improve water flow during periods of heavy rainfall.
National Flood Protection Projects
More broadly, the minister outlined progress on flood protection projects nationwide.
Between 2021 and 2025, 23 projects were completed in several provinces, including Larache, Tangier-Assilah, Ouezzane, Nador, Jerada, Boulemane, Meknes, Kenitra, Settat, Chichaoua, Zagora, Marrakech, Tiznit, Taroudant, Tinghir, Assa-Zag, Sidi Ifni, and Boujdour.
An additional 15 projects are currently underway in areas such as Meknes, Tetouan, Skhirat-Temara, Laayoune, Taroudant, Inzegane-Ait Melloul, Chefchaouen, Tan-Tan, Figuig, Taza, Sidi Kacem, and Youssoufia.
International Partnerships
Finally, the minister noted that Morocco has signed several agreements with international partners to reinforce early warning systems, particularly in areas most exposed to flood risks.
Baraka said a new flood protection program will be scheduled at the start of next year within the framework of Morocco’s river basin agencies.
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