The situation at the Oued El Makhazine dam is stable, with a decrease in water level.
Update on Oued El Makhazine Dam: Stability and Ongoing Monitoring
The situation at the Oued El Makhazine dam remains stable, with a decrease in the water level thanks to the operation of the automatic spillway, stated Yassine Wahby, head of the evaluation and water resource planning department at the Loukkos Hydraulic Basin Agency (ABHL), on Tuesday.
In a statement to MAP, Mr. Wahby noted that the dam is “in very good condition,” adding that “the management of the rising water level is proceeding correctly and normally.”
He explained that “regular safety inspections and control operations are being conducted, revealing positive indicators.”
Mr. Wahby highlighted that the gradual release of water from the Oued El Makhazine reservoir continues, despite significant water inflows recorded in recent days.
In this context, he specified that this controlled release contributes to the decrease in the reservoir’s water level, with the spillway’s flow rate surpassing 787 cubic meters per second on Tuesday morning. He elaborated that this flow increases as the reservoir level rises and decreases as it declines.
Additionally, Mr. Wahby pointed out that the Oued El Makhazine dam received substantial water inflows in the past 24 hours (from 7 AM on Monday to 7 AM on Tuesday), estimated at approximately 109 million cubic meters, which has impacted the reservoir level.
He concluded that the situation is being “managed positively, with all stakeholders mobilized,” noting that the reservoir level is expected to gradually decrease due to ongoing release operations and improvements in weather conditions.
Meanwhile, authorities in the city of Ksar El Kébir continue their on-ground mobilization efforts to protect residents, secure their properties, and implement proactive measures in response to the rising water levels of the Loukkos River, which have inundated several neighborhoods, as well as the southern and western entrances to the city.
These measures were decided based on field data and weather forecasts, indicating that flooding is not on the decline and that the level of risk remains high.
Citizens are therefore urged to exercise utmost vigilance and caution, refraining from returning to affected areas until the situation improves and official instructions are published, in order to preserve lives and ensure everyone’s safety.
