A major electricity failure struck Casablanca and adjacent regions on Wednesday evening, November 11, interrupting daily life in Morocco’s economic capital. The Casablanca-Settat Regional Multiservice Company (SRM) issued a statement confirming that the outage began at 4:48 p.m. due to a technical fault in the national high-voltage transmission system. According to Hespress English, the utility traced the issue to strong winds and thunderstorms, identifying the root cause for the first time. This fault originated in the infrastructure managed by the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water, rather than in the local distribution network directly controlled by SRM.
The power loss reached numerous residential and commercial zones, including central districts like Maârif and Ben M’Sik, as well as the Al Fida and Aïn Chock areas. Hespress English reported that the impact also spread to the Nouaceur province, specifically hitting Bouskoura, Dar Bouazza, and Oulad Azzouz. The timing of the failure proved particularly disruptive, as it coincided with the evening rush hour. Traffic signals at key intersections ceased to function, leading to significant congestion and vehicle accidents. Additionally, tramway services were halted, and elevators in various buildings stopped working, trapping residents and workers.
Local businesses felt the immediate effects of the blackout. Hespress English noted that many dining establishments and coffee shops had to pause their service when the electrical supply failed. The broader weather context involved an Atlantic depression that brought heavy rain and powerful gusts to several Moroccan provinces. Authorities issued warnings for continued strong winds and rainfall through Thursday, leading to precautionary school closures and ferry disruptions in other parts of the country.
To address the upstream failure, SRM engineers performed switching operations on the medium-voltage network. These maneuvers allowed the utility to adjust power routes while technicians repaired the damaged transmission lines. The company described the event as a force majeure, noting that the fault lay outside its direct operational control. While technical teams were fully mobilized to restore service, the statement did not specify the exact number of affected customers or a definitive timeline for full recovery. The utility apologized to residents, promising a swift return to normal operations.