Severe flooding across northern and eastern Tunisia has killed at least five people, left several others missing and damaged transport and public infrastructure after days of torrential rain, authorities said.
Heavy rainfall that began late Monday triggered rapid flooding in several cities, submerging roads, paralyzing traffic and forcing the suspension of schools and public transport in wide parts of the country.
Four of the deaths were recorded in Moknine, a coastal city in Monastir province, while a fifth person died in El Haouaria in neighbouring Nabeul province, according to official figures.
Emergency teams are continuing search operations for four fishermen who went missing after their boat capsized off the Monastir coast. The men had departed from the port of Teboulba early Monday before being caught in sudden and severe weather. One fisherman survived and reached the Kuriat Islands, about 15 kilometres offshore, officials said.
The flooding caused significant disruption to transport networks, including in the capital, Tunis, where waterlogged roads and tram lines led authorities to suspend public transport services in several districts.
Schools were closed on Tuesday and Wednesday in 15 of Tunisia’s 24 provinces, reflecting the scale of the disruption and concerns over road safety and access.
Civil protection teams, backed by the Tunisian army, were deployed nationwide to clear flooded roads, pump water from residential areas and assist people trapped in inundated neighborhoods.
