Tunisia floods disrupt capital as heavy rain traps motorists and residents

Recurring Floods disrupt daily life in Tunis, raising questions about Drainage, Transport and Flood preparedness.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 Tunis" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="206106" data-entity-type="location">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.‘The road became almost unrecognisable’Fatma, a 35-year-old employee in Tunis, said the situation deteriorated quickly as she struggled to get home safely.“At about 4pm, the road became almost unrecognisable. The tunnel leading to Bab Saadoun was completely closed because of the rain,” she told Al Jazeera.“Most people were stranded by the roadside for hours, waiting for public Transport that never came. 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.