Tunis, Tunisia – Heavy rain brought parts of Tunisia’s capital to a standstill on Thursday, flooding roads and homes, trapping people in cars and disrupting electricity and internet services. Home to nearly three million people, the Greater Tunis region has faced repeated flooding in recent years. Thursday’s flooding came only months after severe January rains caused widespread disruption across the capital and other parts of the country, leaving several people dead and causing significant damage.
Weather warnings had been issued in advance, but the decision to suspend classes in Tunis was announced only shortly before it took effect. Parents rushed to schools to collect their children as the rain intensified and traffic backed up across the capital. Videos shared online showed flooded streets, cars stranded in rising water and what appeared to be power lines catching fire.
Residents also reported power and internet cuts and water entering homes. Fatma, a 35-year-old employee in Tunis, said the situation deteriorated quickly as she struggled to get home safely. The tunnel leading to Bab Saadoun was completely closed because of the rain,” she told Al Jazeera.
I saw three cars that filled with water and broke down, and people carrying their children on their shoulders.” “Every season, the same thing happens. Roads close and traffic comes to a complete standstill. All the drains start overflowing with waste,” she said.
The National Institute of Meteorology had warned of locally heavy thunderstorms on Thursday, including heavy rain over short periods that could cause flooding, disrupt traffic and overwhelm drainage networks. It also warned of potential power cuts. Every year, we end up flooded even when there is little rain,” said Intissar, 33, from the Lafayette area of Tunis.
She blamed local authorities for failing to carry out preventive work before the rainy season. But she also acknowledged the role of residents. At a government meeting in August, officials called for drainage networks and waterways to be cleaned and flood-protection work to be accelerated.
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