The Loukkos and Sebou Rivers in Northwest Morocco are currently experiencing severe flooding, with the Loukkos River under a maximum alert level due to controlled dam releases and historic rainfall.
The Loukkos and Sebou Rivers in Northwest Morocco are at maximum alert; over 50,000 residents have been evacuated from Ksar El Kebir alone as major dams reach 100% capacity.
River levels remain at critical stages following the Oued El Makhazine Dam reaching 100% capacity; emergency controlled releases are currently cresting downstream. While water levels in some urban areas began a slow recession over the weekend, authorities remain on high alert as further rainfall is forecasted through the week.
The flood status is Critical. The Oued El Makhazine Dam has reached full capacity, holding approximately 960 million cubic meters of water. Authorities have discharged over 281 million cubic meters in controlled releases to prevent structural failure, causing significant downstream surges. Schools remain closed until at least February 8, 2026, as additional heavy rainfall is forecasted for the next 72 hours.
River levels are at critical peaks after the Oued El Makhazine Dam reached 100% capacity (over 670 million cubic meters), forcing major controlled releases downstream. The Sebou River is currently cresting near Sidi Kacem, and authorities have extended school closures in the region through February 10, 2026, due to continued high-flow risks and saturated soils.
Ksar El Kebir: The primary disaster zone, with over 50,000 residents displaced and approximately 13 neighborhoods currently under water.
Sidi Kacem Province: Massive evacuations continue in the villages of Al Haouafate, Sidi El Kamel, and Sidi Allal Tazi.
Kenitra (Gharb Region): Rural douars are experiencing significant isolation as runoff from the Sebou basin overflows local bypasses.
Larache Agricultural Belt: Catastrophic losses reported for sugar beet, avocado, and cereal crops in the saturated lowlands.
Oued El Makhazine Dam: Current reservoir levels sit at 67.72 meters, surpassing the previous historic record set in 1996.
National Road No. 1: Entrance to Ksar El Kebir is sealed off; only departures are permitted as water covers major transit arteries.
Lahmidiyine & Drarsa: Specific sectors in Sidi Kacem seeing the most aggressive sandbagging and barrier reinforcement efforts.
Information compiled from the Ministry of Equipment and Water, the Loukkos River Basin Agency, local station data in the Larache and Sidi Kacem regions, and verified reports from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR).
This event has officially surpassed the 1996 and 2018 records, marking the most severe flood event in the Loukkos basin in over 30 years. Check our archives for more Northwest Morocco river data.
The 2026 floods in Northwest Morocco represent a violent “hydrological whiplash.” Following nearly a decade of record-breaking drought, the region has been hit with weeks of torrential Atlantic storms, filling the Sebou and Loukkos basins beyond their operational limits. While the surge has boosted national dam-filling rates to over 60%, the human cost is mounting. To understand why modern cities like Ksar El Kebir and Sidi Kacem are increasingly vulnerable to these sudden shifts, explore The River Mixer’s Guide to Human-Driven Flooding: How Engineering and Urban Planning Shape Our Rivers to learn how infrastructure can inadvertently amplify flood risks.
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