The United Arab Emirates has formally expressed its profound condolences and solidarity with the Republic of Tunisia in the wake of devastating floods that have claimed multiple lives and caused extensive damage. Through an official statement released by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the UAE conveyed its deepest sympathies to the families of the victims and the Tunisian people, alongside wishes for a swift recovery to all those injured.
The catastrophe unfolded as torrential rains, described by the National Institute of Meteorology as the heaviest in over seven decades, battered the North African nation beginning Monday night. The relentless downpour continued through Tuesday night, with residual showers persisting into Wednesday, leading to widespread school and business closures and severe disruptions to transportation networks.
Official reports confirm a death toll of at least five individuals. Four fatalities occurred in the town of Moknine within the Monastir governorate, while a fifth was reported in Nabeul. Furthermore, local media outlets have reported four fishermen as missing after one colleague was successfully rescued in the coastal town of Teboulba, south of Monastir.
Tunisian emergency services have been engaged in a large-scale response effort. The civil defence agency reported that its teams have rescued approximately 350 people trapped by rapidly rising floodwaters since the onset of the crisis. Khalil Mechri, a spokesman for the civil defence, indicated that while the intensity of the severe weather has subsided, a high state of alert remains in effect across affected regions.
Visual evidence from AFP and social media platforms depicts scenes of severe inundation, with homes and roadways submerged and vehicles left stranded. The regions of Monastir, Nabeul, and greater Tunis were among the hardest hit. President Kais Saied visited several affected areas, including Moknine and Teboulba, to assess the damage firsthand.
This extreme weather event highlights critical vulnerabilities in Tunisia’s urban infrastructure. Drainage and stormwater systems, often antiquated and poorly maintained, are frequently overwhelmed during heavy rainfall, a situation exacerbated by waste clogging the networks. Furthermore, rapid urbanization has reduced ground permeability, increasing surface runoff and flood risk.
The devastating floods present a stark paradox for Tunisia, a country that has been grappling with a severe seven-year drought intensified by climate change, which has led to a critical decline in national water reserves. Neighbouring Algeria has also experienced significant rainfall and flooding, with authorities there reporting two fatalities in western regions.