January 21, 2026, 11:06January 21, 2026, 11:06
At least four people have died in heavy rains in Tunisia. The country was “paralyzed by deadly storms,” the Tunisian state agency TAP reported yesterday evening.
The unusually severe storm led to road closures and also massively affected traffic, educational institutions and public services. There has been heavy rain since Monday, especially in the north and east of the small country on the Mediterranean.
Heavy rains in Tunisia.Image: EPA
Two Germans were caught in floods by car
In northern Tunisia, two German tourists were rescued from the water by local residents. According to a local representative, the two holidaymakers were caught in the floods in their car in the rural area around Takelsa, south of Tunis.
Eyewitnesses reported that the water carried the man away and the woman was stuck in the mud. Local residents rescued the two with a tractor, brought them into warmth and provided them with clothing. “You were lucky,” said council member Abdelbasset Belmoni on local radio.
President Kais Saied ordered the army to help with search and rescue operations in the affected areas. Civilian guards tried to pump the water out of residential areas in the capital Tunis and in the provinces of Bizerte, Nabeul and Monastir. In many places there is a lack of equipment. Many streets were flooded and impassable, and train services were also partially canceled.
Rain, snow and storms in Greece too
The storm also has Greece firmly under control. There was heavy rain in many parts of the country, and heavy snow also fell in higher altitudes, as Greek media reported.
According to the Greek Meteorological Office, there were winds of more than 100 kilometers per hour in the Ionian Sea, which lies between Greece and southern Italy. Numerous ferry connections have been suspended. Schools remain closed in the south of the country. (sda/dpa)