A flood warning has been issued for areas around watercourses in the Guir-Ziz-Ghris basin after heavy flows were recorded in Oued El Ahmar, which runs through central Errachidia, amid continuing unsettled weather in the region.
The basin agency has activated its flood-alert stations and asked residents to stay away from riverbeds and low-lying areas, warning of the danger posed by rising water levels.
The alert followed readings from a flood-monitoring system installed upstream in the Ziz basin, the agency said, urging residents to follow instructions issued by the authorities.
The warning comes as dams in the Guir-Ziz-Ghris basin registered the biggest increase in water reserves in the country over the past 24 hours.
Figures released on Monday by the Water Research and Planning Directorate showed that reservoirs across Morocco had gained 49.42 million cubic metres between Oct 18 and 19, with almost half of the increase recorded in the eastern basin.
Guir-Ziz-Ghris alone received a net 23.69 million cubic meters, taking its reserves to 262.31 million cubic meters and pushing its filling rate up to 47.84pc from 43.52pc.
Hassan Addakhil Dam accounted for much of the increase, gaining 14.08 million cubic meters in a single day—the highest rise recorded at any dam in the country.
Its reserves rose to 187.03 million cubic meters, against 172.95 million a day earlier. Kadoussa Dam gained another 9.60 million cubic meters, bringing its storage to 72.09 million.
The latest inflows have pushed national dam reserves to 11.23 billion cubic meters, raising the filling rate to 65.95pc from 65.66pc on Sunday.
The Moulouya basin recorded an increase of 11.55 million cubic meters, with Mohammed V Dam alone gaining 7.72 million. Its filling rate has climbed to 54.28pc, compared with 21.76pc on Oct 4.
In the Oum Errbia basin, reserves rose by 9.49 million cubic meters. Al Massira Dam gained 3.75 million cubic meters, while Bin El Ouidane added 2.66 million, taking its filling rate past 80pc.
Read also : Morocco’s dams gain 17.27 million cubic meters from recent rainfall
The Draâ-Oued Noun basin also recorded an increase of 6.68 million cubic meters, including 5.40 million at Mansour Eddahbi Dam.
Four basins—Sebou, Loukkos, Souss-Massa and Bouregreg—registered slight declines.
According to the daily bulletin, 29 of the country’s 69 monitored dams gained water, 24 lost water and 16 showed no change.
The national filling rate stood at 31.89pc on the same date last year, less than half the current level.
Le barrage Oued El Makhazine. (S.Kadry/Le360)
