Ninety-six millimetres (almost four inches) of water fell in less than two hours, flooding parts of central Tunis and several suburbs, causing blackouts and cutting telephone lines in a number of areas.

Residents in Tunis, in Ariana to the north, Manouba in the west and Ben Arous south of the city were told to remain indoors until further notice, an interior ministry statement said.

Road traffic was cut between Tunis and the towns of Bizerte and Beja, to the north and northeast, with further rainfall expected across the north of the country overnight.

Tunis and its surrounding region were hit last week by the heaviest rains in half a century, claiming four lives.

TERRA.WIRE