A severe electrical outage plunged major districts of Casablanca and surrounding regions into darkness on Wednesday evening, November 11, 2026, severely disrupting traffic, public transit, and commercial activities as a powerful Atlantic storm front battered Morocco's coastline.
Casablanca Traffic Paralyzed During Evening Rush Hour
The blackout struck at approximately 5:00 p.m., hitting critical commercial and residential sectors across Morocco's economic capital. Key districts including Sidi Belyout and Maârif, alongside neighboring municipalities such as Bouskoura, Nouaceur, and Dar Bouazza, experienced sudden losses of power. The timing—coinciding precisely with the evening rush hour—created immediate chaos on the roads as traffic lights failed at major intersections, leading to severe congestion and several minor traffic collisions across the city.
Beyond vehicular traffic, the power failure impacted crucial urban mobility infrastructure. The city's vital tramway services experienced disruptions, while elevators in high-rise residential and commercial buildings trapped commuters and residents. Local establishments, including popular restaurants and cafés in the bustling metropolis, were forced to suspend operations temporarily as regional utility operators scrambled to assess the scope of the grid failure.
Atlantic Depression Triggers Nationwide Weather Alerts
The sudden power breakdown occurred amidst a broader meteorological event affecting the Kingdom. An aggressive Atlantic depression swept across various Moroccan provinces, bringing torrential downpours, intense thunderstorms, and fierce wind gusts. Meteorological authorities issued urgent severe weather warnings covering multiple regions, forecasting continuous heavy rainfall and strong winds through Thursday.
In response to the severe atmospheric conditions, regional authorities across Morocco took proactive safety measures. Preventive school closures were implemented in vulnerable provinces, and maritime ferry services faced temporary disruptions elsewhere along the coast to safeguard citizens and travelers. While utility repair crews worked tirelessly to restore power grids in Casablanca, the incident underscores the growing importance of bolstering urban infrastructure resilience against extreme weather events driven by shifting climate patterns along North Africa's Atlantic seaboard.
As reported by en.hespress.com.
