Torrential Rain Exposes Tunis’s Flood Vulnerability

Torrential rain swept across Tunis and surrounding areas, causing widespread flooding, transport disruption, utility failures, and the closure of educational institutions. The Tunis Governorate suspended afternoon classes at all public and private schools, training centres, and universities after receiving warnings from the National Institute of Meteorology and guidance from the regional disaster-prevention committee. Authorities had forecast between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain across Greater Tunis within a short period, a volume that overwhelmed drainage systems in several neighbourhoods. Floodwater rapidly covered roads and pavements, forcing residents to wade through streets and leaving cars and buses unable to move. Some vehicles were stranded, including one trapped beneath a tunnel. In Tunis’s historic medina, residents sought shelter in shops and beneath awnings as water rushed through the narrow streets. The storm also caused power and internet outages, while water entered some homes. Videos shared on social media appeared to show power lines catching fire during the downpour, adding to concerns about the safety of residents and the reliability of essential services. The latest rainfall follows a summer marked by prolonged heatwaves and comes amid a year of repeated flooding in Tunisia. In January, at least five people died during the country’s heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years. The new storms have renewed attention on the vulnerability of Tunis’s infrastructure, particularly its drainage systems, after extended periods of extreme heat. The flooding illustrates the growing risks posed by intense, short-duration rainfall in urban areas and explains the authorities’ decision to close schools as a precautionary measure.

Torrential rain and severe thunderstorms struck Tunis and nearby areas on Thursday after a prolonged period of extreme heat. The rainfall raised concerns about flooding, disrupted traffic, and caused water to pool on roads and sidewalks. Hail was also reported in some locations. In the capital’s historic medina, floodwater rushed through the narrow streets, prompting people visiting the souks to seek shelter in shops and beneath awnings. Authorities suspended classes at schools and universities across the city as a precaution because of the dangerous weather and the risk of further flooding. The storm followed a summer characterized by extended heatwaves and unusually high temperatures in several regions of Tunisia, highlighting the country’s exposure to abrupt and potentially hazardous weather shifts. The article also places the latest rainfall in the context of Tunisia’s recent history of extreme weather. In January, the country experienced deadly floods that killed at least five people after receiving its heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years. That earlier disaster intensified concerns that heavy precipitation could again produce serious flooding and disruption. The report, attributed to Agence France-Presse, focuses on the immediate effects of the storm in Tunis, including the suspension of education, transportation difficulties, water accumulation, and the behavior of residents and visitors seeking shelter. It also underscores the broader pattern of heatwaves, intense rainfall, and flood risk affecting Tunisia.

Heavy rain brought much of Tunisia’s capital, Tunis, to a standstill on Thursday, flooding roads and homes, trapping motorists, and disrupting electricity and internet services. The Greater Tunis region, home to nearly three million people, has experienced repeated flooding in recent years, including severe January rains that caused deaths and significant damage across the capital and other parts of the country. Although the National Institute of Meteorology had issued warnings about locally heavy thunderstorms, including the risk of flash flooding, traffic disruption, overwhelmed drainage systems, and power cuts, the suspension of classes in Tunis was announced only shortly before it took effect. Parents hurried to collect their children as roads became congested and floodwater rose. Online videos showed stranded vehicles, flooded streets, and apparent fires involving power lines. Residents also reported water entering homes and interruptions to power and internet services. Residents criticized authorities for failing to complete flood-prevention work before the rainy season, while also acknowledging that improperly discarded waste blocks drainage channels. The government says 29 flood-protection projects are under way and that officials had called in August for drainage networks and waterways to be cleaned and protective work to be accelerated. The flooding has also exposed weaknesses in public transportation, with many residents saying recurring road closures make it increasingly difficult to live without a car. The disruption coincided with the return of students to schools and universities and came ahead of a planned national march in Tunis calling for the release of four activists detained over the Al-Soumoud Flotilla. Rain is forecast to continue through Saturday, when the march is scheduled to take place.