The deluge on Wednesday paralysed the city and the surrounding neighbourhoods, causing blackouts and chaos on the roads and cutting telephone lines in a number of areas.

As well as the three people who died, one of whom was electrocuted, Tap reported several people had been injured and hospitalised but without giving any figures. No figures were immediately available on damage.

Tunis was returning to normal on Thursday, with residents clearing debris and pumping flood water from their homes and businesses.

The storm came just one week after Tunis and its surrounding region were hit by the heaviest rains in half a century. The subsequent floods claimed four lives and caused serious damage to housing, businesses and state-owned buildings.

The press said the effects of the bad weather had been exacerbated by gutters that were already swollen with water and chaotic building construction in the city of two million inhabitants.

Weather services have predicted more storms.

Since the beginning of the year, flooding in northwestern Tunisia has left at least eight people dead and affected thousands.

TERRA.WIRE