Floods inundate roads in southeastern Algeria

Heavy rain in the Djanet and Illizi provinces of southeastern Algeria has flooded several main roads, blocking traffic for hours and leaving vehicles stranded. Civil Protection officials confirmed the flooding on Thursday and urged motorists to avoid the affected routes.

The region is normally dry, with most of the Sahara receiving less than 10 mm of rain each year. In recent weeks, a series of low‑pressure systems brought unusually intense precipitation, a pattern linked to climate change. Roads built in the 1990s were not designed for sudden water surges, so even a few centimeters of rain can create dangerous, fast‑moving streams. The floods threaten to isolate remote communities, disrupt transport of goods, and hurt a local economy that depends on mining and seasonal tourism.

According to the Civil Protection, at least 15 mm of rain fell over a 24‑hour period in Djanet, and 10 mm in Illizi. The main road linking the two towns was submerged up to 1.5 m deep. Emergency crews from the National Gendarmerie and the Ministry of Public Works were dispatched to clear debris and pump water. No casualties have been reported so far, but several small trucks and cars were trapped and had to be lifted by crane. Local officials said that the flooding has forced the closure of the N5 highway for the next 48 hours and that traffic will be rerouted through the secondary road network. Residents in nearby villages have been advised to stay indoors until the water recedes.

Authorities plan to repair the damaged sections of the N5 within the next week, using sandbags and temporary bridges. The Ministry of Water Resources has announced a review of flood‑risk maps in the Sahara, aiming to upgrade drainage systems and install early‑warning sirens. Meanwhile, scientists are monitoring rainfall patterns to better predict future extreme events. The incident underscores how even arid regions are vulnerable to sudden, intense weather, a reality that will shape infrastructure planning in the coming years.