Heavy rainfall has caused widespread flooding in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, leaving one person dead, submerging vehicles and disrupting traffic across several parts of the city.
The downpours struck on Tuesday, October 13, flooding major roads, damaging buildings and forcing authorities to launch emergency drainage operations.
According to Africanews and AFP, the flooding also affected public facilities, including a hospital, as emergency teams worked to clear water and debris from the streets.
Flooding in Tripoli claims one life
Jumhouria Bank confirmed that one of its employees died after being electrocuted while entering the bank’s headquarters in Tripoli on Tuesday.
The incident occurred as floodwaters submerged electrical utility boxes near the building.
Following the death, Libya’s General Electricity Company announced precautionary power cuts in several districts of the capital to reduce the risk of further electrical accidents.
Authorities urged residents to exercise caution around flooded streets and electrical infrastructure.
Heavy rains leave vehicles stranded
The intense rainfall quickly overwhelmed roads across Tripoli, leaving vehicles partially submerged and motorists struggling to escape rising water.
Videos circulated by local media and social media users showed drivers leaving their vehicles as floodwaters filled the streets.
Security forces closed the capital’s ring road because of dangerous conditions.
The flooding also reached buildings in the city centre.
Images shared online appeared to show water entering corridors at Tripoli’s central hospital, raising concerns about disruption to essential services.
The full extent of the damage to public infrastructure has not yet been established.
Emergency teams begin drainage operations
Libyan authorities ordered public services to carry out urgent operations to remove floodwater and restore access to affected roads.
Municipal workers and road maintenance teams deployed trucks and pumping equipment across major thoroughfares on Tuesday morning.
Their efforts focused on removing accumulated water, mud and debris carried into the city by the heavy rainfall.
The government also directed relevant agencies to respond to flooding in affected neighbourhoods.
Officials have not yet announced a comprehensive assessment of the damage.
Weather officials had warned of heavy rainfall
Libya’s National Meteorological Centre issued a warning on Monday evening, forecasting significant rainfall across northern parts of the country.
The agency advised people living near wadis, which are normally dry watercourses, and in low-lying valleys to remain alert to possible flooding.
Such areas can become dangerous when intense rainfall causes water levels to rise rapidly.
Tripoli has experienced repeated flooding during periods of heavy rain, partly because drainage networks can become blocked by sand and debris.
Local authorities regularly undertake maintenance work to clear drains and manholes before the rainy season.
However, the latest downpour again placed pressure on the capital’s drainage infrastructure.
Flooding highlights infrastructure challenges
The latest flooding has renewed attention on Tripoli’s ability to manage periods of intense rainfall.
Blocked drainage systems can cause water to accumulate rapidly on roads and around buildings, creating risks for motorists, pedestrians and public services.
The combination of submerged electrical equipment and flooded transport routes has added to the dangers facing residents.
Emergency crews continued clearing affected roads as authorities worked to restore normal conditions.
The full scale of the damage and the time needed to complete recovery operations remain unclear.