FLOODED STREETS IN TUNIS; PEOPLE NEGOTIATE FLOODS: FORT LIFT TRUCK AT WORK: TRUCKS THROUGH FLOODED STREETS.




Initials GHB/VS/CCT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: TUNISIA WAS YESTERDAY (WEDNESDAY) STILL IN THE GRIP OF SERIOUS FLOODING, WHICH IN THE PAST THREE WEEKS HAS KILLED NEARLY 500 PEOPLE AND LEFT MORE THAN 100,000 HOMELESS.

IN THE NORTHERN TOWNSHIPS OF JENDOUBA AND MEDJEZ EL BAB, TUNIS RADIO WAS WARNING INHABITANTS TO FLEE AS FLOODWATERS SWEPT TOWARDS THE TWO CENTRES.

SWOLLEN WATERCOURSES WERE REPORTED TO BE RUNNING AT 23 FEET (SEVEN METRES) ABOVE NORMAL LEVELS IN MANY PLACES, AND NEAR BIZERTA SEVERAL COMMUNITIES HAD TO BE EVACUATED AS THE FLOODWATERS SWEPT IN. A SCHOOL NEAR BIZERTA WAS CUT OFF AFTER ALL THE PUPILS HAD BEEN BROUGHT TO SAFETY. MANY OTHER AREAS WERE ISOLATED AND FARMERS REPORTED THAT THE VITAL DATE HARVEST WAS A TOTAL LOSS.

SOUTHERN PARTS OF THE COUNTRY WERE TODAY (THURSDAY) RETURNING TO NORMAL UNDER SUNNY SKIES, BUT IN THE CAPITAL, TUNIS, VEHICLES AND PEDESTRIANS WERE STILL HAVING TO NEGOTIATE THE SWIRLING WATERS, AND THE SUBURBAN RAIL SERVICE WAS LIKELY TO BE OUT OF ACTION FOR ANOTHER FOUR DAYS, ACCORDING TO OFFICIALS.