Marrakech under the threat of the Issil wadi

Disaster was narrowly avoided this Friday, 28 November. The flooding of the Issil wadi, which crosses part of the city of Marrakech, did not occur. In fact, the wadi came very close to overflowing its banks following the torrential rain that lashed the city throughout Friday night. The considerable rise in water levels caused hundreds, if not thousands, of Marrakchis, particularly those living near the wadi, to head out, fearing the worst. Residents of the neighbourhoods along the Issil wadi still remember that its overflowing in 2003 caused casualties and significant damage. They also remember the flood of 2 May 2011, which inundated several neighbourhoods in Marrakech, including Belbekkar, Daoudiate, Nakhil and Amerchich, and caused disruption to the city's road traffic. However, the threat of flooding has not been dispelled, and the worst is still to be feared. In an article entitled…