Traffic came to a standstill in and around Beirut during the morning rush hour on Thursday after heavy rain blocked major roads, trapping commuters in their vehicles.

The slippery roads also caused traffic accidents that left at least six people injured, the Traffic Management Center said. The heavy traffic was mainly concentrated on the Beirut-Jounieh highway, when rainwater submerged parts of Dbayeh highway, a scene that the Lebanese witness at the start of the rain season in October and November.

But the ministry of public works began removing the dirt and water that swamped the highway, allowing cars to head slowly to Jounieh. In one neighborhood in Kesrouan, vehicles were almost completely submerged and houses were flooded with rainwater. The residents of Hayy al-Wadi that lies between Zouk Mosbeh and Zouk Mikhael urged the Civil Defense Department and rescuers to help them.

Capt. Michel Moutran, the founder of the TMC, told Voice of Lebanon radio (93.3) that the road closures due to heavy rains require preventive measures by the public works ministry and municipalities. [Link]