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Tunisia: Flash Floods - Sep 2020

Estado
Pasado
Países
Túnez
Tipos de desastres
Inundación repentina

Heavy rainfall began around 12 September when Monastir, a capital of the Monastir Governorate in the center of the country, and many other towns around recorded 47.8 mm of rain in 24 hours, and Sidi Bouzid and many other towns of this governorate 58 mm. During the same period, Mahdia and all belonging localities recorded more than 40 mm of rain in 24 hours during 3 separate days. Kairouan recorded 89 mm of rain. Kef governorate registered similar amounts of rain especially in Sers locality. During that period almost an average of a monthly rain was registered.

Flooding and related fatalities were reported in the governorates of Monastir, Sousse, Mahdia, Sfax and Tunis, according to the country’s Civil Protection Agency. Floods struck several districts of the capital, Tunis. Some areas were under 1 meter of water, leaving roads impassable and buildings damaged. Orthopedic hospital in the governorate of Manouba was flooded; water reaching archives and hospitalization rooms National Institute of Meteorology (Institut national de la météorologie) of Tunisia issued warnings for further heavy rainfall on 13 and 14th of September. Consequently, floodwater surged through many different districts damaging infrastructure, houses, properties, and livelihoods of the community members.

During this period, media reports said at least 6 people have died in floods after days of torrential rainfall in Tunisia, hundreds were rescued and thousands of homes damaged.

More than 40,000 people have been affected by the floods. Some of them fled their homes seeking shelter in neighboring high-ground houses and communities, while other chose to stay in their damaged houses moving to rooftops rather than risking crossing flooded areas to reach evacuation points. Water supply through pipelines is limited, and the water available in some areas is contaminated. Electricity has been cut off in certain districts to avoid risk to people and electrical damage. IFRC, 6 Oct 2020