Torrential rain and flooding in Tunis force school closures

Heavy rain has flooded parts of Tunis, disrupting roads, homes and public services and prompting the suspension of afternoon classes across the city. The Tunis Governorate said the closure applies to all public and private educational, training and university institutions. The decision came as water covered streets and pavements in several neighbourhoods of Greater Tunis.

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Officials cited warnings from the National Institute of Meteorology and advice from the regional disaster-prevention committee. Between 30 and 50 millimetres of rain were forecast over Greater Tunis in a short period, enough to overwhelm drainage systems in some areas. Cars and buses struggled to move through flooded streets, and some vehicles were left stranded, including one trapped beneath a tunnel.

In the historic medina, residents sheltered in shops and under awnings as water rushed through narrow streets. The storm also cut power and internet connections and sent water into some homes, adding to the disruption for residents. Footage shared on social media appeared to show power lines catching fire during the downpour, although the available material does not confirm the extent of any damage.

The flooding comes after a summer of prolonged heatwaves and follows a year in which Tunisia has faced repeated flooding pressure. In January, at least five people died when the country recorded its heaviest rainfall in more than seven decades. The latest episode has again drawn attention to the strain that extreme rainfall can place on Tunis infrastructure.

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Drainage systems in dense urban areas can be quickly overwhelmed when heavy rain falls over a short period, especially after long spells of intense heat. The disruption also shows how weather events can affect transport, education and basic utilities at the same time. For a capital city, even short-lived flooding can have wider knock-on effects across daily life and public services.

The response so far has centred on precautionary closures rather than a wider emergency declaration. The regional disaster-prevention committee was involved in the decision, alongside meteorological warnings, indicating that officials were acting on forecast conditions rather than waiting for the situation to worsen. The available information does not mention injuries or deaths from the latest flooding.

It also does not say how long the school suspension will remain in place. What remains unclear is how much rain will ultimately fall across Greater Tunis and whether flooding will spread to additional neighbourhoods. It is also not yet known whether transport, power and internet services will recover quickly or face further interruptions.

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