Severe Flash Floods Paralyze Tunis, Trapping Residents and Disabling Services

Heavy rainfall brought the Greater Tunis region to a complete standstill on Thursday, inundating roads and residences, stranding motorists in rising waters, and crippling vital electricity and internet infrastructure. Home to nearly three million people, the capital has faced recurring flooding crises in recent years, following a severe storm in January that caused widespread devastation and multiple fatalities.

Although the National Institute of Meteorology had issued advance weather warnings, the official decision to suspend classes in Tunis was announced only moments before implementation, sending parents scrambling through heavy traffic to collect their children from school. Online footage documented submerged thoroughfares, abandoned vehicles, and potential electrical fires, while locals reported widespread utility outages.

Fatma, a 35-year-old local employee, described the rapid deterioration of conditions as she attempted to return home. “At about 4pm, the road became almost unrecognisable. The tunnel leading to Bab Saadoun was completely closed because of the rain,” she stated to Al Jazeera, noting that public transport failed to arrive and many families were left stranded.

Frustrated residents openly questioned the preparedness of local authorities. Intissar, a 33-year-old from the Lafayette area, criticized the government for neglecting preventive maintenance during the summer months, while also acknowledging that citizens dumping waste into drainage channels contributed to the blockages.

Government officials previously stated in August that 29 flood-protection projects were active nationwide to clean waterways and drainage networks. Meanwhile, the severe weather coincides with preparations for a Saturday national march in Tunis demanding the release of four activists linked to the Al-Soumoud Flotilla, as forecasts predict continued rain.