1.
AV Flooded area (2 shots)
0.21

2.
GVs Italian troops arriving & crowds (2 shots)
0.34

3.
GV Flooded village (3 shots)
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4.
GV TRAVEL SHOT & GV PAN Flooded filed & streets (2 shots)
1.02


Aerial views of flooded area; Italian troops arriving; flooded village; flooded fields ad streets.




Initials SGM/0318 SGM/0338



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: After a week of continuous heavy rain, the worst of Tunisia's disastrous floods appeared to be over a the weekend, Official casualty lists were 86 people dead or missing, and 53,000 homeless.

In Northern Tunisia some 6,000 homes were destroyed, 10,000 head of sheep and goats drowned and crops ruined or damaged on more than 50,000 acres of farmland.

Throughout the country roads, railway,s bridges, public buildings and telecommunications suffered widespread damage.

The disaster caused many countries to react swiftly. Libyan and Italian helicopters and troops were ferrying food and other essential supplies to flood victims to isolated communities. french and American warships called at Tunis with essential supplies.

The region of Algeria was also affected by the disaster. Floods virtually cut off the region from the rest of the country, leaving hundreds homeless. Fifty people were reported dead or missing.

SYNOPSIS: The worst of Tunisia's disastrous floods appeared to be over at the weekend. This comes after a week of continuous heavy rain. Eighty-six people were reported deed or missing, and fifty-three thousand were made homeless.

The disaster brought swift international reaction., Italian troops arrived on Saturday to help with relief operations. and Italian and Libyan helicopters ferried food supplied to flood victims and isolated areas.

In Northern Tunisia six thousand homes were destroyed; ten thousand head of sheep and goats drowned, and crops ruined on more than fifty thousand acres of farmland.

Roads, railways, bridges, public buildings and telecommunications suffered widespread damage. The Annaba region of Algeria was also hit by the floods. There, hundreds ware left homeless and many reported dead or missing.