Heavy rainfall lead to floods blocking traffic on Monday evening. (Courtesy of: Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — Highways outside Tripoli and Beirut were flooded Monday evening in different areas, blocking traffic after heavy rainfall, L'Orient Today correspondents reported.
With public infrastructure weakened by a three-year economic crisis, Lebanon finds itself, once again, ill-prepared for winter storms. Intense rains often flood large swathes of Lebanon's low-altitude coastal areas, prompting requests for assistance and rescue.
The Arman tunnel on the highway to Akkar was flooded Monday night, along with roads near Amchit and Batroun, and the Beddawi highway in northern Lebanon, our correspondent reported.
Other sections of highway near Beirut were also submerged, halting traffic.
Heavy rainfall also obstructed traffic on the eastern lane of the Jbeil highway towards Tripoli, due to the rising water level.
Caretaker Public Works Minister Ali Hamieh said in a statement Monday evening that "the ministry's contractor teams are working [on the highways] and will remain ready throughout the night and during the entirety of the storm," adding that they "will remain ready to coordinate at any time and throughout the day, with all other concerned authorities in order to avoid floods."