Eastern Libya is in mourning as Hurricane Daniel has caused devastating floods, leaving a death toll of at least 20 people in its wake. Libyan authorities have declared a state of emergency in the affected areas and are taking measures to address this unprecedented natural disaster.
Hurricane Daniel has violently struck the eastern coast of Libya, leaving behind a heart-wrenching human tragedy. The latest official figures report 20 confirmed deaths so far, but authorities fear that this number may increase as rescue efforts continue.
According to information provided by the Al-Bayda Medical Center and the government’s ambulance and emergency services, the cities of Al-Bayda and Shahat have been severely affected, with 12 reported deaths. The city of Susah, located in the east, has also been seriously affected, with a provisional death toll of 7, including 3 women. The tragedy extended to the city of Al-Marj, where an elderly man lost his life in his car.
The Mediterranean storm Daniel swept through several regions in eastern Libya, causing massive amounts of rainfall, storms, thunderstorms, winds exceeding 70 kilometers per hour, and waves over 4 meters high. The consequences of these extreme weather conditions have been devastating, leading to massive flooding and infrastructure destruction.
In response to this unprecedented disaster, the head of the Libyan Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid Dbeibeh, declared all cities affected by the floods and torrential rains in the eastern part of the country as “disaster zones.” This measure is aimed at mobilizing resources and immediate assistance for the affected communities.
The spokesperson for the Crisis and Emergency Service, Officer Walid Al-Orfi, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that “the waters from the Derna dam have reached the homes, leading to the destruction of roads connecting the cities after the water level rose by more than three meters.” Authorities in eastern Libya have also announced the suspension of classes in all public and private schools, the closure of stores, and imposed a curfew to address the crisis.
