Torrential rain kills 9 in Tunisia
Pastor Dale Morgan
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*Torrential rain kills 9 in Tunisia*
From correspondents in Tunis
October 14, 2007 12:35pm
Article from: Agence France-Presse
AT least nine people died and eight others went missing today in
torrential rains that caused serious damage in and around the Tunisian
capital, national radio reported.
President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali gave instructions "to ensure the
situation is monitored in all affected regions and to bring necessary
help and assistance to the victims in these exceptional climatic
conditions", a presidential spokesman said.
Torrential rains fell mainly on the north of the country today, filling
formerly dry river beds known as wadis and causing them to overflow.
The rains and subsequent flooding blocked traffic on many roads and
isolated some towns.
"Rescue services arrived just in time to help several stricken people on
the roads ... which kept losses down," said TAP news agency.
Eight people died and eight went missing in the Sabalet Ben Ammar area,
north-west of the capital on the road to the port city of Bizerte, while
another person was killed in Tunis after his car was swept away.
The President's office said that a ceremony marking the 44th anniversary
of the withdrawal of French troops from Bizerte's naval base scheduled
for Monday had been cancelled.