Storm Daniel Batters Eastern Libya. (image: twitter.com/remnantman1)
One fourth of the North African country Libya is alleged to be battered by the apocalyptic Mediterranean storm Daniel. Nearly 3000 were estimated to be dead and over 10,000 is alleged to be missing, as per reports.
Authorities in east #Libya said that about a quarter of the city of Derna has disappeared and is no longer fit for living, adding that dead bodies are scattered on its roads after Storm Daniel ravaged the city. pic.twitter.com/3Z5Bog8VB9
— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) September 12, 2023
City of Derna is alleged to be battered as two dams collapsed “sweeping whole neighbourhoods with their residents in to the sea”, said Ahmed Mismari, the spokesperson of Libyan National Army.
“It is very disastrous. Bodies are everywhere. In the seas, in the valleys, under the building”, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, Minister of Civil Aviation and member of the emergency committee in the administration that controls the east, as reported by Reuters.
The storm also hit other cities along the coast and city of Benghazi, Libya”s second biggest city.
As per reports, Libyan health official said so far 700 people were buried.
Libyan health official says they have so far buried 700 people killed in the flooding in the eastern city of Derna, reports AP
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 12, 2023
“The disaster is beyond the capacity of the Libyan infrastructure. If there is any other word more severe than disaster – we can all it that”, said Mahmoud Iftessi from the Libyan Economic and Social board to Al Jazeera.
UN Humanitarian Coordinator for Libya urged all local, national and international partners to join hands provide humanitarian assistance for the eastern Libya.
As the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, I am deeply saddened by the severe impact of Hurricane Daniel on the country and have tasked an emergency response team to prepare to support local authorities and partners in the region. pic.twitter.com/yQptqVP3s1
— Georgette Gagnon – جورجيت غانيون (@ggagnonn) September 11, 2023
Egyptian President Abdel Fathah el-Sisi commanded to deploy equipments and personnel to aid Libyan forces to help the rescue mission.
Turkish rescue teams and supplies has already arrived in the flood hit Libya. “We continue to deliver search and rescue teams and aid materials to Libya, a friendly and brotherly country”, Libyan Defence ministry said.
Thanks to a 2011 NATO – backed uprising, Libya was divided in to east and west and has been in conflict for over a decade.
The government in Tripoli, which does not control eastern areas has send aid to Derna, with at least one relief flight from the western city of Misrata, says report.
A plane has departed Tripoli heading to Benghazi carrying 14 tons of medical supplies and 87 medical and paramedical personnel to storm-stricken areas in east #Libya. pic.twitter.com/a0W0YswBcu
— The Libya Observer (@Lyobserver) September 12, 2023
Other countries including US and Qatar has also declared to help.
With inputs from agencies.
