Dialogos

Four Dead in Tunisia After Heaviest Rainfall in Decades

Published January 20, 2026, 19:02
Four Dead in Tunisia After Heaviest Rainfall in Decades

Four people have died in Tunisia due to the torrential rains that hit the country, which are the heaviest in decades. The deaths occurred in Moknine, in the Monastir governorate, where two people were swept away by floodwaters and a woman drowned in her home. The tourist village of Sidi Bou Said, near Tunis, has recorded 206 millimeters of rain since Monday evening. Rainfall was exceptionally high for January, with the Monastir, Nabeul and greater Tunis areas being the most affected. Authorities have suspended classes in schools in several areas and transport has been disrupted in many parts of the country due to the bad weather. The army has been mobilized to participate in rescue operations. The extreme rainfall comes after a seven-year drought in Tunisia, which has been exacerbated by climate change and has led to a significant reduction in water reserves in dams. The country is facing a severe water shortage, which is affecting agriculture and access to drinking water, resulting in cuts in several areas.