at least 150 dead in floods after torrential rains

Floods caused by torrential rains which hit eastern Libya in recent days have left at least 150 dead, the Libyan executive announced to AFP on Monday September 11. “At least 150 people were killed due to flooding caused by Storm Daniel in Derna, Jabal Al-Akhdar areas and Al-Marj suburbs” in eastern Libya, a spokesperson said.

Storm Daniel hit eastern Libya on Sunday afternoon, notably the coastal towns of Jabal al-Akhdar (north-east) but also Benghazi. Described by experts as a phenomenon “extreme in terms of the amount of water that fell”, the storm called Daniel has also hit Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria in recent days, killing at least 27 people. The storm also caused “significant material damage to infrastructure and private property”added the Libyan spokesperson.

Impressive mudslides and entire neighborhoods underwater

The parallel government, appointed by Parliament and installed in eastern Libya, Derna said on Monday “disaster city”. Hundreds of residents are still stranded in areas that are difficult to access while rescue teams, supported by the army, try to help them. Images filmed by residents of eastern towns like Derna, al-Bayda and smaller towns show impressive mudslides and entire neighborhoods underwater, as well as collapsed roads and buildings.

The UN mission in Libya said “closely monitor the emergency situation (…) in the eastern region of the country”, expressing solidarity with the families of the victims, in a message posted on X (formerly Twitter). The French Ambassador to Libya, Mostafa Mihraje, presented his condolences to the victims and expressed his “solidarity with the Libyan people in this ordeal”also in a message on X.