Northern Morocco Braces for Potential Floods as Officials Urge Preventive Action

Will heavy rains cause flooding in Tetouan and M’diq in September? According to several sources, several black spots in Tetouan, such as the El Wilaya neighborhood, the Jbel Dersa neighborhood, the Kora Sebaa neighborhood, as well as other areas in Kuweilma, remain threatened by flooding, reports Al Akhbar. Faced with these threats, the municipal opposition elected officials have called on the presidents of the municipalities of Tetouan and M’diq to take preventive measures to protect against the dangers of flooding, to examine the delays in restructuring projects and to overcome the obstacles related to their delay. They also asked them to coordinate with the delegated management companies to clean the sewers and rainwater drainage channels, especially in the face of certain negative waste management practices during the peak tourist season.

The flood dangers are also repeated in the peripheral neighborhoods of Fnideq, the same sources report. It is therefore urgently requested to accelerate the development of the Aghattas wadi, which has benefited from a significant budget. In addition, the problems observed in certain neighborhoods of the urban municipality of Martil, where rainwater infiltrates into the houses every time, and roads are cut off due to black spots between Tetouan and M’diq, and between M’diq and Fnideq, persist. Although the State has spent billions to solve the problems of construction in river bed areas and reduce the risk of flooding, the continuation of studies to equip infrastructure of an adequate level proves necessary.

To manage the crisis of black spots related to flooding, the Tetouan Council has requested the budget of the region. These floods have affected both upscale neighborhoods and peripheral neighborhoods without exception. Faced with the persistence of black spots, where rainwater causes traffic disruptions, vehicle breakdowns, and material losses in household furniture and equipment, as well as in store merchandise, the competent authorities have opened an administrative investigation.

In Tetouan and M’diq, the vigilance committees have been involved in each weather alert bulletin to ensure the flow of rainwater and the restoration of traffic as quickly as possible. Not to mention the intensive interventions with the public works services, the workers of the National Mutual Aid and the delegated management companies to quickly eliminate the mud and residues of the floods from the edges and the center of the roads, open the channels and ensure cleanliness according to the required standards.