A powerful storm named Daniel has unleashed catastrophic flooding in Libya, raising concerns of thousands of casualties, with many residents missing.
The leader of the self-declared eastern Libyan government, which lacks international recognition, reported a death toll surpassing 2,000 and thousands more unaccounted for.
A Libya specialist, Jalel Harchaoui suggested that the death toll could potentially rise into the “several thousand” range, as reported by Reuters
Storm Daniel made landfall on Sunday, prompting authorities to declare a state of extreme emergency. During ongoing rescue operations, seven Libyan army personnel went missing.
To manage the crisis, officials in the east imposed a curfew, with schools and shops ordered to close.
The flooding severely impacted eastern cities including Benghazi, Sousse, Derna, and Al-Marj. Alongside the rising death toll, the Libyan Red Cross reported the destruction of at least 150 homes.
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The head of the Red Crescent humanitarian network conveyed that at least 150 deaths occurred in Derna alone.
In Derna, home to approximately 100,000 people, two dams reportedly collapsed, leading to extensive submergence and fatalities. Consequently, authorities declared the port city a “disaster city.”
Eastern Prime Minister Osama Hamad stated on Libyan television, “The missing are in the thousands, and the dead exceed 2,000… entire neighborhoods in Derna have disappeared, along with their residents… swept away by water.” However, he did not provide a source for these figures.
In addition to eastern regions, the western city of Misrata also endured the storm’s impact. Unverified videos circulated online, depicting torrents of floodwater carrying away individuals and stranding drivers on their car roofs.
The storm’s consequences extended to economic sectors as well, forcing the closure of four major oil ports. While the Benghazi-based administration managed matters in the east, the internationally recognized government in Tripoli also engaged in response efforts.
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Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeiba directed state agencies to address the damage and floods, and the United Nations in Libya expressed its commitment to providing urgent relief assistance at local and national levels.
Libya has grappled with internal divisions since 2014, following the death of long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Both rival governments declared three days of mourning following Storm Daniel.
Last week, the storm affected Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, resulting in over a dozen casualties. Egypt also braced for the storm’s arrival, with meteorological authorities monitoring the situation.
Climate scientists have emphasized the role of global warming in intensifying storms, as increased summer evaporation leads to more water in the atmosphere, ultimately contributing to more severe weather events.