Flash floods caused by storm Marta in northern Morocco kills at least 4 people

The Moroccan Interior Ministry and local authorities confirmed on Sunday, February 8, 2026, that at least four people died in flash floods triggered by Storm Marta in the northern region of the country following days of extreme rainfall. The casualties, which included three children aged 2 to 14 and a man in his 30s, occurred near a village in the Tétouan province, approximately 270 kilometers north of Rabat, when their vehicle was swept away by surging waters. These fatal floods were exacerbated by the necessary release of water from overfilled dams, which had reached critical levels due to the cumulative impact of consecutive storm systems hitting the North African coast. Storm Marta arrived shortly after another major weather system, Storm Leonardo, had already saturated the Iberian Peninsula and Northern Africa. According to Houssine Youabed of Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology, the storm dumped as much as 92 millimeters (3.6 inches) of rain on northern cities over the weekend. The sheer volume of water forced the evacuation of more than 150,000 residents, caused minor landslides, and led to significant damage to local infrastructure, homes, and agricultural crops. One person remains missing in the Tétouan area, and officials have announced a formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident. Despite the immediate devastation and loss of life, government officials noted a complex silver lining to the extreme weather. The heavy precipitation has effectively ended a multi-year drought that had severely threatened Morocco’s water security. Authorities stated that the filled dams have now secured at least a year's supply of drinking water for the population and provided a vital boost to the country's critical agricultural sector. While the recovery efforts for displaced citizens continue, the influx of water is expected to stabilize the nation's irrigation resources through the upcoming growing season.