Floods ravage northwest Tunisia At least two people have been reported dead in a major flood that swept northwestern Tunisia on Thursday night, as the Tunisian Army carried out rescue operations in several governorates. Tunisian state news agency TAP reported that a car carrying three people was swept away in the floods and two from the car were confirmed dead in Boulifa, seven kilometres from Kef.
Heavy rainfall, combined with the runoff from recent snowfall has led to landslides and the inundation of several towns and villages.
Flood alerts have been issued, and the Tunisian army is evacuating residents living in the Kef, Jendouba, Bizerte and Beja Governorates, an area spanning the entirety of Tunisia’s northwest region.
Tunisian Defence Ministry’s representative, Colonel Mokhtar Ben Nasr said “the national army has carried out rescue operations on Wednesday and Thursday, in several governorates of the Republic.”
Residents of town Mtsakna were instructed to take shelter in evacuation centres set up by the army due to the strong possibility that heavy flooding would engulf the town. More than 1000 people have been evacuated from a neighbourhood of Mateur, near Bizerte, in expectation of major flooding.
Evacuees are being relocated to sports stadiums and schools. The army is providing them with blankets and food.
While dams have temporarily prevented flooding along the banks of the Majerda River, the director of civil protection has announced that authorities will be forced to open the floodgates to reduce the amount of water being held. Residents living in Sidi Salem and Majez El Bab are being advised to evacuate in preparation of a sudden increase in water levels downstream from the dam.
A municipal worker in Majez El Bab said that a rise of just one and a half metres in the height of the Majera River would likely cause major flooding in a region already suffering from several weeks of rain and snow.
A youth centre and covered sports hall recently retrofitted to host evacuees are both now threatened by flooding according to TAP.