(Benghazi) Air traffic was suspended Monday in eastern Libya due to a strong sandstorm coming from the Sahara, which also forced administrations and educational establishments to temporarily close their doors, according to local authorities.
Takeoffs and landings were stopped until further notice at all airports in the region, including Benina in Benghazi, where the runway was covered with a thick layer of sand, according to images broadcast by local media.
“All flights to and from Benina airport have been postponed due to lack of visibility and poor weather conditions,” Saleh al-Amrouni, director of the airport, told al TV channel. -Masar.
Libya, plunged into chaos since the fall of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, is governed by two rival executives: one in Tripoli (west), led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah and recognized by the UN, the other in is, embodied by Parliament and affiliated with the camp of Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
As of Sunday, authorities in the east had decided that Monday and Tuesday would be “public holidays for all administrations due to bad weather conditions,” according to the national news agency Lana News.
In addition, instructions have been given to safety barriers on roads and law enforcement on public roads to limit traffic and the movement of people in areas where visibility is poor.
A state of alert was also declared in Derna, a city in eastern Libya, to preserve a battered population still in shock after the deadly floods of September 2023 which left thousands dead or missing and more than 40 000 displaced.
Strong winds also blew across the towns of Tobruk, al-Bayda and Ajdabiya in northeastern Libya where the sky turned ocher in color, with very poor visibility, forcing people to stay at home.