Historic January Rainfall Triggers Deadly Floods Across Tunisia, Closing Schools and Overwhelming Emergency Services

A Deluge Not Seen in Decades

Tunisia woke to water everywhere. Streets vanished. Cars sat half-submerged. Sirens cut through the rain.

After the heaviest rainfall in more than 70 years, floods swept across multiple governorates, killing at least four people and disrupting daily life across the country. All four deaths were reported in Moknine, Tunisia, in the Monastir Governorate, according to civil defence officials.

Meteorologists confirmed the scale of the event. Rain fell fast. It fell deep. And it did not stop.

“We have recorded exceptional amounts of rainfall for the month of January," said Abderazak Rahal, head of forecasting at the National Institute of Meteorology. He noted that parts of the country had not experienced rainfall of this magnitude since 1950.

Cities Flooded, Communities Cut Off

The flooding spread quickly across northern and central Tunisia. Low-lying neighborhoods were hit first. Water poured into streets and homes, cutting off entire areas.

Civil protection teams reported that several neighborhoods became inaccessible, especially in lower elevations. Emergency crews struggled to reach people as floodwaters rose.

In Tunis, Tunisia, schools were closed. The same decision followed in Nabeul‎, Tunisia, Sousse, Tunisia, and Beja, Tunisia. Court sessions were suspended. Public and private transport slowed or stopped in parts of the country.

Vehicles disappeared beneath muddy water. Roads turned into channels.

Coastal Towns Under Water

Along the coast, the scene grew more dramatic. In Menzel Temime, Tunisia, videos shared on social media showed fast-moving floodwaters sweeping debris through residential streets, with seawater pushing into neighborhoods.

On the outskirts of the capital, Sidi Bou Said, Tunisia, recorded 206 millimeters of rain since Monday evening, according to the National Institute of Meteorology. The tourist village, known for its white-and-blue streets, found itself drenched and overwhelmed.

The flooding did not spare daily routines. Shops closed. Commuters stayed home. Families waited for the water to recede.

Emergency Response Under Pressure

As conditions worsened, Tunisia’s emergency response expanded. According to a Defence Ministry source, the army joined rescue operations, supporting civil protection teams already stretched by the scale of the disaster.

“The situation is critical in some regions," meteorologist Mahrez Ghannouchi wrote in a public message, reflecting the urgency felt across the country.

Authorities warned that conditions remained dangerous as waters continued to move through urban and coastal areas.

Rainfall Records Shattered

Meteorological officials confirmed that rainfall levels in several regions were the highest recorded since 1950. January, typically a wet month, exceeded expectations by a wide margin.

Floods inundated streets. Vehicles stalled. Entire districts paused.

Tunisia, facing one of its most intense rainfall events in modern records, remained on alert as emergency teams worked to restore access and safety across affected areas.