Snow closes roads, traps vehicles in Algeria, blankets wide areas of Tunisia

By Hassen Djebril, Adel Elthabti, and Rania Abushamala

ALGIERS, Algeria/ISTANBUL (AA) - Heavy snowfall closed several roads and trapped dozens of vehicles across parts of Algeria on Wednesday, while blanketing wide areas of neighboring Tunisia, according to authorities.

In Algeria, civil defense teams rescued stranded motorists in several western and central provinces, including Tiaret, Tissemsilt, Tizi Ouzou, Bordj Bou Arreridj, and Medea, with no casualties reported.

Traffic disruptions were also recorded in Batna, Jijel, Mila, Setif, Bejaia, Khenchela, Tlemcen, Sidi Bel Abbes, Bouira, and Tebessa, as snowfall continued across mountainous and high-altitude areas.

Algeria’s meteorological services said snow is expected to continue through Wednesday evening in northern regions, particularly in central and eastern areas at elevations above 700-800 meters (2,296-2-624 feet), with accumulation reaching up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) in some locations.

In neighboring Tunisia, snowfall covered wide areas of the western regions, including Kasserine governorate, where snow was reported in Feriana, Foussana, and Tala, as well as Makthar in Siliana governorate.

Tunisia’s National Institute of Meteorology forecast heavy rainfall in northern areas, including Nabeul, and along the eastern coastal regions of Sousse, Monastir, and Mahdia, with isolated hailstorms in some areas.