Unprecedented rainfall hits Beirut causing its worst flooding in years, Lebanon

Torrential rains hit capital Beirut (population 2.2 million) on September 9, 2018, causing worst flash flooding this Mediterranean city has seen in years.

The road connecting Tripoli to the Dinnieh region was turned into a river, with the water 1 m (3 feet) deep in some places. Ragging floodwaters damaged homes, cars and infrastructure, and hectares of agricultural land.

"The northern Dinnieh area was unprepared for torrential rains Sunday that caused the worst flooding in years, bringing the area to a standstill," local MP Sami Fatfat said.

"We were really surprised," Fatfat said. "This amount of rain at this time of year is unprecedented. We’re trying to ensure that next time this happens, we’ll be prepared."

The flooding caused a river of garbage flowing through the streets of Beirut, showing just one of the ugly sides of the city's incapability to deal with disposal of its waste since 2015 when the country's main landfill site closed due to years of over-use.

Featured image credit: AWG